The polka is a lively Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. History of Polka Dance and Music. Some of traditional dances in Austria are schuhplattler, ländler, polka, waltz, zwiefacher, kontratänze and sprachinseltänze. While, the dancing and music started in the Czech Republic, it was also popular in Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Germany and the Slavic countries. However, most German folk dances can be performed to the beat of either a landler, waltz or polka.

Many genres of folk dances and local music also played and performed in Austria with little orchestras. This Polka is dedicated to them – and comes complete with chattering percussion effects. A smooth style polka dance performed by Pattie Wells' Dancetime Center instructors Brandon Detty & Stephanie Swain for the Pacific House of Relations, Austria House Lawn … The Schuhplattler is a traditional style of folk dance popular in the regions of Bavaria and Tyrol (southern Germany, Austria and the German-speaking regions of northern Italy). The couples cover much space as they circle about the dance floor. In Austria, folk dances in general are known as Folkloretänze, i.e. The 10 most bizarre Viennese waltzes and polkas. The Viennese custom is to anticipate slightly the second beat of each bar, making it sound as if the third is late and creating a certain buoyancy.

Folk style polka music is thought to have started in the early 1800’s. 4 time re-arrangement of the more polka-like "The Lonely Goatherd." It is characterized by three quick steps and a hop and is danced to music in 24 time. Polka, lively courtship dance of Bohemian folk origin. The Strauss family wrote music for society dances – and of course no dance would be complete without the gossips and chatterboxes.

It originated in the middle of the 19th century in the Czech lands and is still a common genre in Swedish, Lithuanian, Czech, Polish, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Austrian, Russian, Slovenian and Slovakian folk music.

Types of dance. In the 19th century, the word primarily indicated that the dance was a turning one; one would "waltz" in the polka to indicate rotating rather than going straight forward without turning. Figure dancing is a type of dance where different figures are put together with a certain tune and given a name. Compare this one to the "Dornbacher" Ländler by Lanner, and one will hear many similarities. [citation needed] The choreographers for the motion picture researched the traditional Austrian folk dance and integrated it into the choreography of the Ländler danced in the film.