Not only is folk dancing the oldest form of dance, but it is also the basis for all other dance forms, including ballet, ballroom, disco, modern, and jazz. Over the years it has come to reflect the life and times of a culture and has acquired the qualities of social recreation. Folk dance is distinguished by being participatory rather than a performing art, at least in a vast majority of situations. Square and line dances are part of the folk genre, and are not limited to the United States. The use of traditional costumes and accessories in folk dance aids in preserving a culture's link with its past.