Folk dance of Slobozhanshchyna in the fair tradition

The purpose of the article is to study the peculiarities of the Sloboda folk dance development in the context of the historic genesis of the fair tradition in the region that provides grounds for further functioning of the folk dance, argues for the peculiarities of the dance canon and will expand the themes of modern choreographers’ creativity. The methodology. The research methodology is based on the main cultural approaches. The historical approach to the study of the fair as an artistic phenomenon provided a comprehensive understanding of the formation, functioning and development of folk dance in the tradition. The system approach formed the idea of fairs as a complex cultural phenomenon, all elements of which are interconnected and interact with each other. The results. The Sloboda fairs, from the time of their establishment to the present, are not only trade and economic events but also cultural and artistic events, designed to preserve the customs and traditions of the region. In the fair tradition, a folk dance performed mainly communicative and entertaining functions, today it also relays the artistic heritage. Due to internal inter-ethnic communi-cation, which improved assimilation, a regional dance canon was formed, which makes the modern folk-stage dance of Slobozhanshchyna recognizable. The only negative manifestation of the growth of interest in fair culture and works of decorative and applied art and folklore is the levelling of regional features caused by the attraction to quantitative indicators. The scientific novelty. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that a comprehensive analysis of the folk-dance functioning in the system of the fair tradition, with the account of socio-cultural and historical changes, was carried out for the first time. In contrast to previous studies, the fairs of Slobozhanshchyna were studied not as a trade and economic event, but from the point of view of their importance for the development of the traditional culture in the region. The practical significance. The obtained theoretical results can become the basis for further research in the field of genres and types of folk art of Slobozhanshchyna, writing of educational and methodological manuals for secondary and higher education institutions, and will be auxiliary material for ballet master activities. The analysis of choreographic works fixedly attached in the article will preserve the creativity of contemporaries for future generations.