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Story: Cultural dance

Folk dancing at school

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Folk dancing at school

English folk dancing was seen as a particularly appropriate form of exercise and introduction to dancing for schoolchildren. It was taught in New Zealand schools from the early 20th century. In this photo, taken about 1930, children at Wellington South School can be seen performing a folk dance.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: 1/2-020921-C

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Megan Cook, Cultural dance – European cultural dance, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/44735/folk-dancing-at-school (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Megan Cook, published 27 March 2014.