During a rhythmic activity session, patients work with a trained leader who guides them through the

activities one-on-one or in a group. A good example of a rhythmic activity is a drumming circle.

Patients can create beats by either clapping their hands or banging a drum. Other instruments can be
used in these types of activities as well. Even if the patient cannot play any type of instrument, they
can participate in the rhythmic activities by dancing or performing breathing exercises.
The music created in rhythmic activities allows patients to improve emotional expression, improve
their gross and fine motor skills and experience an increase in physical exercise. New patients are
often encouraged by the older patients to take part in these activities if they are feeling apprehensive.
Folk dance- a dance that originates as ritual among and is characteristic of the common people of a
country and that is transmitted from generation to generation with increasing secularization  —
distinguished from court dance.
mained folk dances, but all of them try to emphasize the cultural roots of the particular dance. Some
of them morphed over time into religious dances, and as such, they are not primarily used to
showcase tradition but to enhance religious ceremonies and beliefs. Such dances are often called
religious or ritual dances.

Folk dances are usually danced at social gatherings (which can be formed spontaneously or during
yearly celebrations) that can but are not required to have a particular dancing stage and are almost
always so simple to dance that new dancers and amateurs are encouraged to start dancing with
everyone else. 
Different Types of Folk Dance
Some of the most notable folk dances from all around the world are:
Ball de bastons – Weapon dance from Spain and Portugal
Céilidh – Gaelic folk dance originating from Scotland and Ireland
Clogging – Folk dance that features beating of heavy footwear on the floor
English country dance – Traditional English folk dance that is also danced in France and Germany
Fandango – Traditional Spanish couples dance that is accompanied by guitars and clapping hands or
castanets.
Georgian folk dances – They include dances such as Kartuli, Khorumi, Acharuli, Partsa, Kazbeguri,
Khevsuruli and many others.
Greek dances – Rich Greek history has borne over 100 of traditional folk dances, including a dozen
that was danced at ancient feasts such as Angelica, Carpaea, Cordax and others.
Hora - Traditional folk dance of Balkans, danced in Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria and several
other countries.
Kolo – Folk dance of that is danced in South Slavic countries such as Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia,
Macedonia, and Slovenia.
Irish Dance – Traditional folk dance that has several forms of dancing, including popular Irish Step
Dance.
Italian folk dance – Italy is a home of many popular folk dances such as Tarantella, Pizzica,
Monferrina, Calabrian Tarantella and Ballu tundu.
Jota – Popular Spanish folk dance.
Morris Dance – Traditional English dance is originating from the 15th century.
Polka – Very popular traditional dance from the Czech Republic that is danced today all around the
world.
Turkish dances – Bar, Halay, Horon, Zeybek and Sufi spinning dance.
Hungarian dances – Most famous Hungarian folk dances are Verbuňk, Ugrós, Karikázóm, Legényes
and Csárdás.
Polska – Traditional folk dance of Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway)
Square Dance – Traditional dance originating from England, it involves four pairs of dancers.
Sword (or Weapon) dances – Genre of folk dances, consisting of dozens upon dozens of individual
dances from all around the world
Dollu Kunitha – Very popular drum-based dance from India.
Bhangra – Famous Punjabi harvest dance.
Attan - The national dance of Pashtun regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Khigga – Celebration or Wedding circle dance of Assyria
Odori – Japanese folk dance, performed at streets during celebrations and parades
Buyō – Japanese geisha and artist dance
Ballroom Dances
These dances started appearing first in Italy, during the early years of Renaissance. Popularity of this
kind of entertainment quickly swept over the Europe, United States and the World. 
Viennese Waltz - Original form of waltz, first performed at the Italian courts is today remembered as
Viennese Waltz. It differs from the much more famous "English Slow Waltz" by having much faster
180 beats per minute and was the first who introduced "closed hold" between performers.
Tango - Originally created in the Argentinean region of Rio de la Plata, this dance is today known by
many of its variations (Argentine tango, Uruguayan tango, Finish Tango and two types of Ballroom
tangos - standard and American) and the fascinating sensual and energetic style.
Cha-Cha-Cha - This incredibly rhythmic dance created in Latin America managed to meld together
both the slow and very energetic movements, making it an instant hit among the dancers around the
world.
Rumba - Popularity of this Cuban dance came from its focus on sensual hip movements of dance
partners. Since its creation in 1930s many types of Rumba were created, most notably Cuban Rumba
(with the style of the African slaves which created it), Catalan Rumba (with Spanish flavor),
Flamenco Rumba and African Rumba.
Samba - Samba is a famous dance and musical genre that originated form the coast of Africa and
land of Brazil. Today infectious rhythm of Samba is regarded as the national dance of Brazil, and its
famous Brazilian Carnival gathers millions Samba dance fans every year.
Mambo - This Cuban dance that accompanies the music of the same name was introduced in 1930s,
and
known under the names of swing, boogie or boogie-woogie. It is considered to be one of the liveliest of
all Latin dances, promoting the happy and bloopy type of performances, with lots of kneemovement
and hip rocking. Its official ballroom jive variation that is commonly danced at a speed of 176 beats
per minute was formalized in the 1990s.
Bolero - Bolero is an Argentine dance, but it also has different international variations of the same
name coming from Cuba and Spain. Today’s popular ballroom version of this dance is based on the
Cuban bolero, and it is also known under the name “rumba”. This 2/4 or 4/4 music with a tempo of
around 120 beats per minute that is well known all around the world.
African-American and Traditional Jazz dances
Charleston - This extremely popular dance type was popularized by famous tune called "The
Charleston" by composer and pianist James P. Johnson. Charleston craze soon took over the
enthusiastic dancers of Prohibition era of United States.
Swing - This dance is today synonym for the jazz and swing music of the 1920s-1930s.Because of the
many styles of Jazz music, Swing also comes in many flavors - Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie,
West Coast Swing and Rock and Roll.
Tap Dance - This extremely popular form of dance was first introduced during 1920s Prohibition era
in United States. Originally created by the African slaves, tap dancing came into the mainstream with
the performances of Nicholas brothers. Few short years later, tap dancing conquered Hollywood and
then entire world.
Moonwalk - This extremely famous dance move that emuates the illusion of walking backwards was
first performed by pop icon Michael Jackson in March of 1983, and ever since then it gained
planetary fame. No single dance move
one of the largest "dance crazes" that our world ever seen. It managed to influence countless other
dances, became national dance of many European countries and is extremely popular in entire
Western hemisphere.
Jive
East Coast Swing - Swing dance has many variations, of which one of the most popular is the East
Coast Swing. This social partner dance is known today under names of Eastern Swing, Jitterbug,
American Swing, East Coast Lindy and Lindy originated between the 1940s and 1960s as the
alternative to the other types of harder-to-learn swing dances.
Capoeira - Capoeira dance is a unique dance that can be found in the combat moves of the Afro-
Brazilian martial art of the same name that takes heavy inspiration from music, dance, and
acrobatics. Practitioners of this martial art are famous for being highly athletic dancers who can take
advantage of dance-like moves to perform quick and complex maneuvers that can deliver a wide
variety of kicks, spins, jumps and other techniques used in combat. Today, Capoeira is famous as one
of the most celebrated cultural heritages of Brazil and South America.
Country/ Western Dances - - The country dance style is a social dance activity that is closely
associated with American country and its Western traditions. It is made not from a single dance but
encompasses many forms and styles of dance that can be performed to country-western music. No
matter the type of music style or dance type, Country dance gatherings employ strong dancefloor
etiquette and even ability to perform multiple dances styles on a dance floor at the single time.
Folk Dance - Folk dances represent musical, cultural heritage, reflections of daily life or ethnic
history of people who live in a certain region or country. Popular all around the world in hundreds of
unique variations and styles, folk dances (also known as traditional or ethnic dances) are usually
performed at dance gatherings with the accompaniment of traditional music of the region. Majority
of folk dances are not regulated, and they slowly morph during the passage of time.
Belly dance - Belly dance is one of the most famous oriental folk dances in the world. It is an
expressive form dance that originated from Egypt, and it emphasizes the complex movement of the
torso and entire body utilizing sudden percussive movements, unstopping fluid body motions and
presence of small and fast shimmies, shivers and vibrations of the hips or the ribcage. Belly dance is
regarded as very sensual, emotional and captivating.
Professional performance dance
Ballet - Ballet is without any doubt one of the most highly technical and famous of all performance
dances. It was originally created in 15th century Renaissance Italy, but it received popularization in
countries such as France and Russia. It’s incredible popularity and influence has had a profound
impact on techniques found in many other dances, and has even morphed the cultural histories of
many countries around the world.
Contemporary dance - Contemporary dance is a highly complicated type of modern performance
dance that originated in the mid-20th century as an alternative to classical dance styles (such as
ballet), modern styles (free dance) and Jazz dance. Its focus on free leg movement, strong stress on the
torso, disordered choreography, unpredictability, multiple and simultaneous actions, improvisation,
and non-standardized costumes, sets, and lighting has pushed this dance into the forefront of modern
art dance scene.
Concert Dance - Concert dance (also known as stage dance) is any choreographed dance that is
performed for an audience, usually at the theatre or an organized gathering setting with the presence
of set music. It is a polar opposite of social or participation dances, where participants can freely
dance how and when they wish. Most popular concert dances are Ballet, Acrobatic dance, tap dance,
modern dance, classical Indian or Persian dances and others.
Modern Dance - Modern dance is an influential performance dance that originated as a reaction
against the classical ballet and its movement style. Shaped by many factors in late 19th and early to
mid-20th century, modern dance evolved into a popular free dance style that includes elements of
performance art, release technique, improvisation and contact improvisation.
Tap Dance - Among many types of popular dances around the world, tap dance may be one of the
most unusual dances. Instead of focusing on body movements and dancing with a partner, tap dance
is characterized by the creation of percussion-like musically-focused rhythm performance using tap
shoes striking on the floor in accordance with the dancing music.
FEET: bring the heel of one foot to touch the toe of the other.