A STUDY OF FOLK DANCE

AND ITS ROLE IN EDUCATION

18th World Congress on Dance Research "The preservation of diversity"
Argos, Greece, 3-7 November 2004

M. Tekin KOKAR, Pinar GIRMEN

(Turkey)
Folkdance is a way of life which can be found in every culture. Folkdance is a part of peoples
life and comes from daily life of people. Folkdance is in the center of human social life. The
origin of folkdance focuses on interaction between human beings and nature. The elements of
folkdance include:
1. Human-human relations
2. Human-nature relations

From the view of human-human relations; folkdance includes such as love, liberty, jealousy,
marriage, religion, fight, war and heroism.
From the view of human-nature relations; folkdance includes such as production style, work
with community, consumption, protect themselves avoid the nature, to take shelter in order to
live, tools, clothing and shopping.

These cultural articats are source of folkdance. Because of the periodical changes in a society
life, folkdances loose their first meanings. Although traditional step styles remains, first
source of the folkdances loose their functions (Kockar, 1998).

In the early centuries, folkdance was a part of all human life. During modern times, folkdance
and symbol of cultures have become mechanized in agriculture; mass media changed the
social life. For that the role of the folkdances changed for the society. Nowadays, folkdance
has become part of popular culture.

Educational value of folkdance

There are a lot of ways to communicate with children. It is known that one of them is
folkdance. Meaning of folkdance for the child is occupation and enjoy. Everywhere in the
world, in every period of time and in every culture children have been dancing. Child can find
out her or himself and also can know his or her own special abilities by dance.

Communication of a culture is another importance of folkdance. Folkdance helps childrens

social and physical development. When child gets a long with other children, he or she
communicate with others and may learn to help the others and to solve problems with others.
Also, child may learn social rules by dance. Children may understand of social expressions
and situations. For example, waiting the dance queue, take responsibilities, respectful to the
others. Dance helps children to learn the concepts that are wrong- right (Cirhinliolu, 2001).

Effects of the folklore to the childs physical development

Repetition of the folklore movements naturally helps the development of childs muscles.
Besides, running, jumping, collapsing and like that activities can regulate the childs
respiratory, digestion and excretion systems. Walking, jumping, running and such activities
like that effects and supports the big muscles development.
Childrens little muscle development which is their hand and fingers development supports
with activities like untying, tying, kneading at least one of that activities child can do while
she or he is dancing.
Effects of the folkdance childs social development
The role when the child deals with the dance like mother, father, girl, boy she or he can gain
the sexual identity. As the child go between in the folkdance he or she gains some habits like
self confidence, self-control, to cooperate with others and discipline. While children are
dancing they can communicate with others, defense the others rights and his or her own
rights. The atmosphere of the folkdance can teach the child social interaction (zdoan,
1997).

REFERENCES

ARAL, Nermin. (2000). Cocuk Gelisiminde Oyunun nemi. Cadas Eitim 25 (265),
15-17.
CRHNLOLU, Fatma Gul. (2001). Cocuk Ruh Sal ve Gelisimi. Ankara: Nobel
Yaynclk.
DNMEZ-BAYKOC, N. (1992). Oyun Kitab, stanbul: Esin Yaynevi.

ERDEN, Sule ve Fatma ALSNANOLU. (2002). Anaokullarna Devam Eden

Cocuklarn Ebeveynlerinin Cocuk Oyun ve Oyuncaklar Hakkndaki
Gruslerinin ncelenmesi. Cukurova Universitesi Eitim Fakultesi Dergisi. 2 (22),
42-49
EVLIYAOLU, Sait ve Serif BAYKURT. (1988). Turk Halkbilimi. Ankara: Ofset
Reproduksiyon Matbaaclk.
KOCKAR, M. Tekin. (1998). Dans ve Halkdanslar. Ankara: Bargan Yaymevi.
ONUR, Bekir ve Neslihan GUNEY. (2002). Turkiyede Cocuk Oyunlar: Derlemeler.
Ankara: Ankara Universitesi Basmevi.
OZDOAN, Berka. (1997). Cocuk ve Oyun. Ankara: An Yaynclk.
TEKKAYA, Ela. (2001). Tasarlanms Cocuk Haklar: Ankara Cocuk Oyun Alanlar.
Milli Eitim Dergisi, 151. 74-83.

AUTHORS

Ms. Pinar GIRMEN (CID 8213)

Date of Birth
: 03 Nov. 1968
Profile
a. Dancer
: Hacettepe University
1988 1992
b. Manager
: Osmangazi University (HAMER)
2001 c. Research Assistant, Department of Education, Osmangazi University
d. Address
: Osmangaz Unversty Folklor Research and Tranng Center (Hamer)
Meselik Kampusu 26480 Eskisehir / Turkey Tel (90): 222.239 37 50 / 1454 Faks: (90)
222.229 14 18 (90) 222.229 31 55 E-Mail: pgirmen@ogu.edu.tr
M. Tekin KOCKAR (CID 8211)
Date of birth
: 21 Dec. 1954
Profile
a. Dancer
: Ankara State Ballet Teatre
1966 1972
b. Dancer
: Ankara Caucasus Folklore Assoc.
1970 - 1974
c. Dancer
: stanbul Folklore Foundation
1974 1978
d. Trainer
: Anadolu University Folkdance Ensemble 1979 2001
e. Trainee
: Elbrus Ensemble Caucasus
1990
f. Trainee
: Pyatniskova Ensemble Moscow
1991
g. Trainee
: Moiseyev Ensemble Moscow
1992
h. Art. Director
: Anadolu University Folkdance Ensemble 1982 2001
. Director and Art Director: Osmangazi University (HAMER)
2001 j. Address
: Osmangaz Unversty Folklor Research and Tranng Center (Hamer)
Meselik Kampusu 26480 Eskisehir / Turkey Tel (90): 222.239 37 50 / 1454 Faks: (90)
222.229 14 18 (90) 222.229 31 55 E-Mail: mtkockar@ogu.edu.tr

Mrs. P. Girmen (CID 8213)

Mr. M. T. Kockar (CID 8211)
Osmangaz Unversty
Folklor Research and Tranng Center (Hamer)
Meelik Kampusu 26480
Eskisehir
Turkey
Tel. (90)222.239.3750 / 1454; fax (90)222.229.1418
pgirmen@ogu.edu.tr
mtkockar@ogu.edu.tr

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Exhibition
Presented at the 18th World Congress on Dance Research
Argos, Greece, 3-7 November 2004
CF04134.doc