Introduction: ethnicity and nationalism -- Parallel traditions: state folk dance ensembles and folk dance in the field -- Anatomy of a dance company -- The Moiseyev Dance Company: ancestor of the genre -- Ballet Folklorico: Viva Mexico! -- LADO, Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs of Croatia: proper peasants -- Egypt: bazaar of dance -- Greece: Dora Stratou greek Dances Theatre, a living museum -- Turkish State Folk Dance Ensemble: the last of the great ensembles -- Conclusion: the power of representation.