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folk dancer

folk dancer

1 3.4
A person who performs traditional dances, often with a group
  • noun
  • /foʊk ˈdænsər/
translation icon : bailarín folclórico
  • Participants in these celebrations also imbibed ethnicity through performances by nationalist gymnasts and folk dancers.
  • folk dancer perform

Examples

  • Row after row of faces were raised toward a silent, rolling image of folk dancers on a television screen.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • And now, of course, the Libbet's folk dancers.

  • The folk dancers twist around in a speeding circle.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • German folk dancers perform shows regularly in Das Festhaus.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The crowd cheered as the folk dancer gracefully twirled in her colorful costume during the festival.

  • At the cultural event, several folk dancers showcased traditional moves that highlighted their heritage.

  • During the parade, the folk dancer performed alongside musicians, bringing the history of their culture to life.

Synonyms

dancer
vsfolk dancer
514 1.0

A person who moves their body to music

is specific to traditional group dances performed at cultural events
reeler
vsfolk dancer
  • UK
9.9

A person who dances reels in Scottish or Irish folk dance

is broader, performing traditional group dances from many cultures
morris dancer
vsfolk dancer
  • UK
9.6

A person who does a traditional English folk dance wearing bright costumes and using sticks or handkerchiefs

is more general, covering traditional dances beyond one nation's costume or props
square dancer
vsfolk dancer
  • US
3.4

A person who dances with three other couples standing in a square

is broader, includes many traditional dances not limited to square formations
Cossack dancer
vsfolk dancer
8.7

Person who performs energetic traditional dances from Eastern Europe with jumps and squats

focuses on traditional group dances without the specific high-energy moves

How Traditional

folk dancer
1 3.4
dancer
514 1.0

Surface Forms

folk dancer singular
folk dancers plural

Morphology

folk + dancer

The meaning 'a person who performs traditional folk dances' is directly and compositionally derived from 'folk' (people sharing a culture) + 'dancer' (someone who dances). This regular noun-noun compounding follows common English and cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Folk dancer comes from village celebrations where the folk, meaning 'local people', danced together and some people were the dancers. So today a folk dancer means 'a person who performs traditional folk dances'.