From the PREFACE. This book of folk dances is published for the sole purpose of placing in the hands of the teachers of the public schools and playgrounds in New York City a description and the appropriate music for the folk dances of the course of study and those which have been approved from time to time as good physical training procedure. No attempt is made to justify their use or the grading which is used, or suggested, nor is any scientific or theoretical end to be served by this collection. It is intended to be useful. All these dances have been used with success in this city and may be employed under like circumstances with the prospect of like success. This collection is the result of the earnest and efficient work of the teachers of physical training and the class teachers in the New York City schools, whose devoted efforts have developed folk dancing in its legitimate sphere to the great benefit and joy of many thousands of children. It is in recognition of their fundamental part in the development of this phase of physical training, and on their behalf, that this book is issued. From the INTRODUCTION. Folk dances have come to fill an important place in physical training. They range in character from the simple song play in which the accompanying action may be descriptive of some trade to the highly developed collection of movements which are not descriptive of anything in particular, save the pure joy of life in rhymthmic exercise. In varying degrees are found the elements of song, play, drama, and vigorous muscular work. For our purpose, it is necessary to make a careful choice of material, as many dances are very evidently inappropriate for scholastic and administrative reasons. Folk dances should serve only their legitimate purpose, viz: recreation and other results supposed to be derived from informal gymnastics. Of course, no one expects that the educational, corrective, and disciplinary results which we can best obtain from formal gymnastics, will ever be supplied by the folk dances, nor do we wish them to subserve the functions of athletics, athletic games, or even aesthetic dancing. They supply a charming addition to our physical training procedure and we can expect large results from their intelligent use.

Excerpt from The Folk Dance Book: For Elementary Schools, Class Room, Playground, and Gymnasium This book of folk dances is published for the sole purpose of placing in the hands of the teachers of the public schools and playgrounds in New York City a description and the appropriate music for the folk dances of the course of study and those which have been approved from time to time as good physical training procedure. No attempt is made to justify their use or the grading which is used or suggested, nor is any scientific or theoretical end to be served by this collection. It is intended to be useful. All these dances have been used with success in this city and may be employed under like circumstances with the prospect of like success. This collection is the result of the earnest and efficient work of the teachers of physical training and the class teachers in the New York City schools, whose devoted efforts have developed folk dancing in its legitimate sphere to the great benefit and joy of many thousands of children. It is in recognition of their fundamental part in the development of this phase of physical training, and on their behalf, that this book is issued. Acknowledgment for descriptions of individual dances is made in the text. Especial recognition is due to the services of Miss Bessie K.Marsh, Miss Maud Edmund's, William H.Harper, Henry J. Silverman, and Harry Sperling, who have rewritten many dances; and to Miss Ellen Hope Wilson, who has assisted in collecting the material. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Folk Dances and Games Professor Frederick Peterson of Columbia University, well known as a nerve specialist writes: "The dance seems to fulfill every requisite of an ideal exercise - the practical use of all the muscles, the acme of pleasurable emotion, and the satisfaction of the esthetic sense." This is true of the folk dances. They are the ideal natural form of exercise. Moreover, they are simple, pretty and enjoyable and give body control as nothing else does. The need of the many good things derived from this form of physical exercise has existed for many years. With the recognition of the need, there has come a demand for an authoritative hand-book prepared with particular reference to the schools. There has been no such book in existence in the English language. The present book was prepared to supply that need. Miss Crawford, the author, has made a special study of folk dancing for many years. She taught the subject to teachers at Chicago University and now has charge of the same work at Teachers College in Columbia University. Her students have gone out to summer schools to spread the good work. All this has intensified the call for such a book as this, which the publishers issue in the hope that it will serve to enrich the lives of the children whose welfare and happiness were kept in mind in the preparation of it. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.