oberek

Oberek is a fast, lively Polish folk dance. It originated in Polish village and town traditions and gained prominence in central and northern regions of Poland during the 18th and 19th centuries. The music is brisk, typically in a 3/8 or fast 3/4 meter, featuring fiddles, rhythm sections, and stomping.

In couple dancing, oberek emphasizes rapid turns, light hopping steps, and strong footwork, often with moments of improvisation. The frame is usually close and dynamic, with dancers spinning quickly around each other and performing quick changes of direction.

Regional variants exist, varying in tempo and ornamentation. Some versions favor acrobatic spins and leaps, others emphasize a steady, sprightly pulse. The dance is commonly performed at village festivities, weddings, and in folk ensembles, as well as in choreographies for stage and concert settings.

Oberek is documented in 19th-century ethnographic collections, notably by Oskar Kolberg, and remains part of Poland's traditional dance repertoire. Today it is performed regularly at folk festivals and by regional and national dance groups, as part of efforts to preserve Poland's intangible cultural heritage.