Vernacular dances are dances which have developed 'naturally' as a part of 'everyday' culture within a particular community. In contrast to the elite and official culture, vernacular dances are usually learned naturally without formal instruction.
[Andriy Nahachewski, "Ukrainian Dance: A Cross-Cultural Approach", p. 34] along with other concepts of vernacular culture.
The word 'vernacular' is used here in much the same as it is in reference to vernacular language, defined in contrast to literary or cultured language.[
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Vernacular dances in urban context are commonly referred to as .
Some folklorists suggest the term as a more universal replacement of the term "folk dance",[ while others use it to better delineate the concept of folk dance.][Richard M. Dorson, "Folklore and Folklife: An Introduction", pp.385-387]
The term is attributed[ to Marshall and Jean Stearns (1968),][Marshall Winslow Stearns, Jean Stearns, Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance, Da Capo Press, 1968, ] who used this term to characterize jazz dance (in its "street" form, in contrast to the show biz form).
See also
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List of street and vernacular dances
