country dance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, neutral (when describing a historical or cultural activity)
Quick answer
What does “country dance” mean?
A traditional social dance, often involving couples facing each other in lines or circles, originating from and associated with rural folk traditions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional social dance, often involving couples facing each other in lines or circles, originating from and associated with rural folk traditions.
The term can refer to the broader category of historical European and North American folk dances, as well as the modern social activity and competitive sport of recreating these dances with period-appropriate steps and music.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'country dance' strongly denotes historical English folk dances (e.g., from the Playford collections). In the US, it can refer more broadly to historical dances from the British Isles and North America, sometimes interchangeably with 'contra dance' or 'folk dance'.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with heritage, village fetes, and historical reenactment. US: Often associated with community gatherings, historical societies, and New England traditions.
Frequency
More common in specialized contexts (historical, folkloric) in both regions. The general public may be more familiar with the concept in the UK due to its presence in period dramas and primary school activities.
Grammar
How to Use “country dance” in a Sentence
[to] dance a country dance[to] perform a country dance[to] participate in a country danceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “country dance” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The village hall hosted a country dance every Saturday, featuring reels and jigs from the 18th century.
- She is an expert in the nuances of the English country dance.
American English
- The historical society's country dance featured lively contra dances from New England.
- Learning a period country dance was part of the living history program.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism or event planning (e.g., 'organising a country dance for the heritage festival').
Academic
Used in historical, musicological, and cultural studies contexts.
Everyday
Used when discussing hobbies, historical interests, or community events.
Technical
Used in dance notation and ethnochoreology to specify form, steps, and provenance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “country dance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “country dance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “country dance”
- Confusing it with 'country and western dancing' or line dancing.
- Using it as a synonym for any non-urban dance form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a subset. 'Country dance' typically refers specifically to the historical social dances of England and its diaspora, often documented in collections like Playford's, whereas 'folk dance' is a broader global category.
Typically, yes. Most country dances are partner dances, but the structure is communal, and partners often change throughout the sequence as directed by a 'caller'.
Contra dance is a specific, simplified descendant of English country dance that developed in North America, characterized by long lines of couples and a constant call-and-response structure.
At historical reenactments, folk festivals, dedicated dance society meetings, and in some traditional village events in the UK. They are also featured in period films and television series.
A traditional social dance, often involving couples facing each other in lines or circles, originating from and associated with rural folk traditions.
Country dance is usually formal, neutral (when describing a historical or cultural activity) in register.
Country dance: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʌn.tri ˈdɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkʌn.tri ˈdæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As intricate as a country dance (describing a complex but patterned situation).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'country' fair where people from the whole 'country'side come together for a communal 'dance'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL HARMONY IS A WELL-EXECUTED COUNTRY DANCE (e.g., 'The committee worked together like a perfect country dance').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinction of a 'country dance' in its traditional sense?