Kolo

Kolo is a traditional circle dance found across the Balkans, especially in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro. The word kolo means circle or wheel in several South Slavic languages, and the dance is named for its circular formation. In performance, participants join hands or shoulders to form a closed or open circle and move in unison around the space, typically to lively folk music played on instruments such as the gusle, tamburica, fiddle, or accordion.

Regional variants include different step patterns, tempos, and formations. A common feature is a steady, driving rhythm that guides a sequence of steps around the circle, often with occasional hops, kicks, or shifts in direction. Dances may be performed at weddings, celebrations, harvest festivals, or other communal occasions. Costumes reflect local tradition and can vary from region to region.

Historically, kolo functions as a social rite that reinforces community ties, shared identity, and memory. In modern times, it remains an active element of folk ensembles, cultural programs, and festivals, where groups preserve traditional music and dance for audiences and younger generations.