Welsh dance (Welsh: Dawns Gymreig), also known as Welsh folk dancing (Welsh: Dawnsio gwerin), is the collection of traditional dances originating in Wales. While Welsh dance shares similarities to traditional Cornish, English and Irish dances, Welsh dance has a reputation as more difficult and more athletic than its counterparts.
Often performed in traditional Welsh costume to Welsh folk music, Welsh dancing traditions were almost entirely lost in the nineteenth century as religious fervour took over the nation and such activities came to be viewed as immoral. However, traditions such as the Llangadfan Dances, the Llanover Dances and the Nantgarw Dances were recorded and revived by a small group of academics and enthusiasts. As such, Welsh dance once again regained its position as an integral part of Welsh cultural life in the twentieth century.
