The arts, and particularly dancing, suffered severely. To understand country dance, we must first look back in history.
Dancing is older than written language.
In the Middle Ages the dance formations evolved into the Round, the Square Eight, and the Long-way. In Europe these dances varied slightly in each country or region, but the common characteristics included an upright body, extended arms, with the legs and feet covering much space. During the Renaissance dancing came to court. Courts took peasant dances, smoothed out the steps and made them more elegant and dignified. While the courtesans dressed in elaborate costumes, peasants retained their lightweight material and soft leather shoes or bare feet.