- How We Got Here: The History of Folk Dance
- What Exciting Things Will 2026 Bring?
- Folk Dance Tights and Knee-High Socks, What to Wear?
- The Best Folk Dance Tights and Knee-High Socks for Folk Dancers
- A Few Good Tips
- Dance, Enjoy, and Don’t Worry About Your Stockings
Hands up if you’ve ever spent half an hour before a performance desperately searching for where the white tights disappeared to. Or only discovered in the dressing room that one knee-high sock had mysteriously gone missing. If you’re nodding right now, you’re in the right place. This is your guide to the essentials, folk dance tights and knee-high socks.
At Sokisahtel, we know that a folk dancer’s life doesn’t revolve around dance alone. It also revolves around the right folk dance tights and knee-high socks. But before we get to the products, let’s take a little tour through the fascinating world of Estonian folk dance.
How We Got Here: The History of Folk Dance
Did you know that the roots of Estonian folk dance go back centuries? In the past, people danced at village celebrations, weddings, and seasonal festivals. Dance was simply a part of life. The polka was danced when the fieldwork was done, and people twirled when the bride was married off.
Estonian folk dance is a centuries-old tradition. From village celebrations and weddings, an entire cultural heritage has grown – one that is still alive and thriving today.
At the end of the 19th century, enthusiasts began writing these dances down, because someone realized that otherwise those beautiful steps would simply be lost. And then came Anna Raudkats (1886-1926) – the woman known as the mother of Estonian folk dance. She laid the foundation for everything we know today as folk dance. In 2026, the 140th anniversary of Anna Raudkats’s birth will be celebrated, and a whole range of exciting events will take place in her honor.
And of course, the Song and Dance Celebration probably needs no introduction. It is such a major event that it is even included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The last celebration took place in the summer of 2025, and the next one will be in 2030.
What Exciting Things Will 2026 Bring?
The folk dancers’ calendar is pretty packed this year. Make a note of these in your planner:
Pärnu Gymnastics and Folk Dance Festival (August 13-16), This summer marks 150 years since the first Estonian gymnastics festival, so the Pärnu festival will be especially festive. Thousands of dancers, the sea nearby, summer warmth, what could be better?
Võru Folk Dance Festival (July 2026), The Võru festival is always such a warm and enjoyable event, where you can both dance yourself and watch others. International groups will be there too!
International Dance Day, This year, the Estonian Folk Dance and Folk Music Society invites everyone to dance the vengerka. If you haven’t tried the vengerka yet, now is the perfect time!
New Dance Competition, In honor of Anna Raudkats, new dances are being sought to enrich the Estonian folk dance repertoire. Maybe it’s you who has a brilliant dance idea in mind?
You can always find all events and updates on the ERRS website.
2026 is full of folk dance events all across Estonia, from Song Celebrations to county dance festivals. Keep an eye on the calendar and be ready!
Folk Dance Tights and Knee-High Socks, What to Wear?
Now we’re getting to the point. When it comes to folk costumes, stockings and tights are actually just as important as the skirt or vest. Each region’s costume is paired with a specific color. And this is where things can sometimes get quite complicated!
The Estonian National Museum’s blog explains very clearly that red stockings are historically best suited to the costumes of Hiiumaa, Western Saaremaa, and some parishes of Läänemaa. Northern Estonian folk costumes, however, are traditionally paired with white stockings. So before buying, it’s always worth checking what your region’s tradition calls for.
But one thing is certain: no matter what color the stockings are, they have to be comfortable. If you’ve ever spent a three-hour rehearsal sweating in tights made from poor-quality material, then you know exactly what we mean. Cotton is a dancer’s best friend. Your legs can breathe, and even after ten dances, you still feel human.
What makes good folk dance tights and knee-high socks special? Material, durability, and comfort, those three things matter most on stage.
The Best Folk Dance Tights and Knee-High Socks for Folk Dancers
Over the years, we’ve supplied quite a large number of dance groups and know exactly what folk dancers look for. Here are the products our customers buy from us most often:
Knee-high socks are an essential part of many regional folk costumes. We offer them in white, red, and black.
Jessi knee-high socks are one of our bestsellers among folk dancers. A comfortable and durable choice for every performance. And they’re just the right length to go over the knee even for the tallest dancer!
Ecocare red tights are a reliable choice when you’re looking for that exact shade of red to match your folk costume. Before every Song and Dance Celebration, we order a large batch into stock – but time and again, they sell out even before the festival begins! It seems these tights are truly a favorite among dancers.
Mirjam knee-high socks are elegant and comfortable. Their distinctive floral pattern makes them stand out from the rest. A favorite model among dancers for years – especially for training days!
Kriss white knee-high socks are a classic choice for a folk dancer. Soft material and comfortable to wear all day long. But if you happen to be dancing on grass, it’s worth bringing a spare pair to the performance just in case. Sometimes slips or falls can happen during rehearsal, and then you may end up in the awkward situation where your lovely white knee-high socks are decorated with green grass stains.
Kriss black knee-high socks are suitable both for performances and everyday wear. Universal and elegant. They go well with all folk costumes. You can find them in children’s, women’s, and men’s sizes.
A Few Good Tips
Cotton is king. When choosing folk dance tights and knee-high socks, always check the material. A dancer’s feet sweat – that’s a fact, not something to be embarrassed about. Cotton tights and knee-high socks let the feet breathe, so after rehearsal you won’t feel like you’ve just come out of a sauna.
Don’t get stuck with the wrong size. Tights that are too small restrict movement (try turning in a foot circle when your tights are squeezing you – not recommended). Tights that are too big, on the other hand, wrinkle and bunch up. Check our size chart and choose the right size.
Ask your instructor. Before buying, check with your dance group instructor which color stockings go with your region’s folk costume. White, red, and black are the most common, but every region has its own rules.
Always keep a spare pair close at hand. Murphy’s law says that tights will tear at the worst possible moment. A smart dancer always keeps an extra pair in the closet, especially before a performance!
Dance, Enjoy, and Don’t Worry About Your Stockings
Estonian folk dance is something truly special. It connects us to our roots, our community, and our culture in a way that hardly any other hobby can. Whether you’re heading for the big stage at the 2026 Pärnu festival or the cozy hall of your local cultural center, the most important thing is that you dance. And that your feet feel good.
At Sokisahtel, you’ll find everything a folk dancer’s feet need. High-quality cotton tights and knee-high socks in every color and size.