International Folk Dance movement

artistic movement

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July 17, 2026

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The International Folk Dance movement is a global phenomenon where participants learn and perform dances from various cultures, regardless of their own ethnic background. This movement gained significant traction in the United States, with influential figures like Vytautas Beliajus teaching and promoting dances from Lithuania, Mexico, India, and Jewish traditions.1

The broader folk dance movement in the U.S. also saw figures like Henry Ford championing square dancing as a way to promote community and counteract more "lascivious" popular dances. Today, International Folk Dance remains a vibrant way to preserve and share cultural heritage through dance, with members actively learning and adapting dances from around the world.21

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folk dance
The International Folk Dance movement
Another influential teacher from the settlement movement was Vytautas Finadar (Vyts) Beliajus, a Lithuanian who immigrated to the United States as a teenager. His family joined relatives in the Lithuanian community in Chicago. He organized the Lithuanian Youth Society, where he…
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Another influential teacher from the settlement movement was Vytautas Finadar (Vyts) Beliajus, a Lithuanian who immigrated to the United States as a teenager. His family joined relatives in the Lithuanian community in Chicago. He organized the Lithuanian Youth Society, where he…
Read More