Finland

Finland's Dances

Finland

Jenkka — A lively, upbeat partner dance related to the schottische, deeply rooted in Finnish community celebrations.

Polkka — A fast, rhythmic traditional partner and circle dance shared across Nordic and European folk traditions.

Humppa — A fast two-beat social dance with a bouncy feel, very popular on Finnish dance floors since the mid-20th century.

Letkajenkka (Letkis) — A line dance based on the jenkka that became an international craze in the 1960s, with dancers holding each other's waists.

Karelian Dances — Dances from Karelia with eastern influences, featuring improvisation, quick turns, jumps and energetic footwork such as the ripaska.

Menuetti & Polska — Older European court and couple dances preserved in regional traditions, such as the Ostrobothnian minuet.

Finnish Tango — Finland's beloved national style of tango, often melancholic and in a minor key, celebrated every summer at the Tangomarkkinat festival in Seinäjoki.

Valssi (Waltz) — A classic partner dance long rooted in rural and social gatherings across Finland.