Dancing In Austria: Cultural Exploration

Austria is known for its rich history of dance, with folk dance and folklore playing a significant role in the country's cultural heritage. The waltz, for example, originated in Austria as a rustic country dance and has since become a beloved form of dance worldwide. Austrian folk dances, known as Folkloretänze or Volkstanz, include a variety of styles such as Schuhplattler, Ländler, polka, and waltz, as well as other forms like Zwiefacher, Kontratänze, and Sprachinseltänze. The traditional dance culture remains vital in many regions of Austria, with events following a predetermined sequence, often including an opening dance, a series of subsequent dances, and a closing circle dance. Vienna, in particular, is renowned for its dance festivals and has established itself as a hub for both traditional and modern dance forms, attracting dancers and enthusiasts from around the world.

Folk dances in Austria are called Folkloretänze, and the Austrian type of folk dance is called Volkstanz

Folk dances are an integral part of Austrian culture and heritage. In Austria, folk dances are generally referred to as "Folkloretänze", which translates to "folklore dances". The Austrian type of folk dance is called "Volkstanz", literally meaning "folk dance".

Austrian folk dances have a rich history, with roots in the rural traditions of the country's mountainous regions. The dances were often associated with courtship, where men would perform elaborate leaps and hip movements to impress unmarried women. Some of these dances include the Schuhplattler, Ländler, polka, waltz, Zwiefacher, Kontratänze, and Sprachinseltänze. The waltz, in particular, is considered the world's favourite dance and originated from an old dance beloved by the lower ranks of society. It gained popularity and respectability with the support of composers like Beethoven, Schubert, and Mozart, and even Emperor Franz Joseph himself, who was known to dance it.

The traditional dance culture remains vital in many regions of Austria, with people of different age groups and skill levels coming together to dance. The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Volkstanz (Federal Association of Austrian Folk Dance) plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting folk dance traditions. They organise various events and projects that focus on researching the history of folk dance and creatively passing on this knowledge, especially to younger generations.

Folk dances in Austria follow a specific sequence, usually beginning with an opening dance called the Auftanz, followed by a series of dances, and concluding with a closing circle dance. The dances are often accompanied by traditional instruments such as the Styrian harmonica, fiddle, clarinet, harp, flute, and brass bands.

The waltz originated in Austria as a rustic country dance

The waltz is a type of ballroom dance that originated in Austria as a rustic country dance. It is one of the most famous Austrian folk dances, along with Schuhplattler, Ländler, and polka. The waltz is a rotary dance where the dancers are constantly turning either towards the leader's right (natural) or towards the leader's left (reverse).

The waltz emerged in the second half of the 18th century from the German dance called the Volta (or Lavolta) and later the Ländler in Austria. The Ländler was danced by farmers and common people and shared the same music and many of the same technical characteristics as the Volta. The closeness of the dance partners during the Ländler attracted moral disparagement, but it became very popular in Vienna and spread to England sometime before 1812. Large dance halls like the Zum Sperl in 1807 and the Apollo in 1808 were opened to accommodate thousands of dancers.

The waltz gained further popularity through the compositions of Josef Lanner, Johann Strauss I, and his son, Johann Strauss II, who helped spread the stately and graceful rhythms of the waltz across Europe. The younger Strauss, known as "'the King of the Waltz,'" brought the waltz to a high degree of technical perfection and transformed it into a symphonic form.

Today, the waltz is a key part of the ballroom dance world and is still an important part of Austrian culture. It is customary for Austrians to begin learning to waltz in their early teens, and the dance is often performed at balls and festivals.

The Schuhplattler dance originated in the alpine regions of Austria as a courtship display

Austria has a rich history of folk dances, with the Schuhplattler being one of the most well-known. The Schuhplattler dance originated in the alpine regions of Austria as a courtship display. The name "Schuhplattler" comes from the German words "Schuh," meaning shoe, and "Plattler," meaning to slap, reflecting the dance's iconic shoe-slapping movement. This energetic and captivating performance consists of athletic leaps, impressive spins, and rhythmic clapping, showcasing the heritage, folklore, and history of Austria.

The Schuhplattler has its roots in the Middle Ages, with its first documented reference appearing around 1050. It emerged from the rural, mountainous regions of Bavaria and Tyrol, traditionally performed by peasants during community gatherings, festivals, and courtship rituals. The dance is typically performed in groups, with men and women dressed in traditional Bavarian attire—Lederhosen for men and dirndls for women. The performance begins with the dancers forming a circle, with the men on the inside and the women on the outside. As the dance progresses, the circle breaks into pairs, with each man performing the signature "Schuhplattler" slaps in front of a woman.

The Schuhplattler is more than just a dance; it's a spectacle that embodies the spirit of the alpine regions. The swift and precise movements, vibrant costumes, and lively music create an unforgettable display. The dance is often performed at Oktoberfest celebrations and other festivals, showcasing the joy and community spirit of the Austrian culture. Over time, the Schuhplattler has evolved and standardised, with the formation of clubs dedicated to preserving and promoting this traditional dance form.

While the Schuhplattler is a significant part of Austrian folk dance, there are also other dances such as Ländler, polka, waltz, Zwiefacher, Kontratänze, and Sprachinseltänze. The waltz, in particular, holds a special place in Austrian culture, having originated as a rustic Austrian country dance before becoming popular across Europe. The works of composers like Johann Strauss and his son, Johann Strauss the Younger, have contributed to the spread and evolution of the waltz, making it an integral part of Austria's cultural self-image.

The Ländler is an Austrian form of folk dance

The Ländler is a European folk dance in 3/4 time, and it is indeed a form of Austrian folk dance. It is a partner dance that involves complicated arm and hand holds, with dancers turning under each other's arms, dancing back to back, and grasping each other firmly to turn around and around. It also features hopping and stamping, and may be purely instrumental or include a vocal part, sometimes with yodelling.

The Ländler is mostly associated with Austria, but it was also danced in Switzerland, Bohemia, Moravia, Slovenia, northern Italy, and Germany. It is thought to have influenced the development of the waltz, along with other folk dances from Germany and Bohemia. When dance halls became popular in Europe in the 19th century, the Ländler was adapted to become quicker and more elegant, and the men stopped wearing hobnail boots.

The dance has many variants, including the Steyrischer, which includes improvised satiric verse and syncopated hand clapping, and the Schuhplattler, a courtship dance where men perform acrobatic displays, stamp their feet, slap their hands and bodies, and lift the women high off the ground.

The Ländler has been featured in various films and musicals, including The Sound of Music, where it is performed by the protagonists Maria and Captain von Trapp. However, it is important to note that the version of the Ländler in The Sound of Music is not a traditional rendition but a choreographed derivative of the original Austrian folk dance.

The Chicken Dance is not an Austrian folk dance

Austrian folk dancing is a vibrant aspect of the country's culture, with dances like Schuhplattler, Ländler, polka, waltz, Zwiefacher, Kontratänze, and Sprachinseltänze. However, the Chicken Dance, despite its popularity, is not among these traditional Austrian folk dances. Here are several reasons why:

Firstly, the Chicken Dance, or Der Ententanz, originated in Switzerland and not Austria. The tune was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s, specifically in 1957, in Davos, Switzerland. Thomas tended a flock of ducks and geese, so the tune was first named Der Ententanz (The Duck Dance). It then acquired other names like Vogeltanz (Bird Dance) or Vogerltanz (Little Bird Dance), and it became popular in German clubs and restaurants.

Secondly, the dance itself, with its characteristic hand and arm movements, is not traditionally Austrian. The dance involves lifting the hands in the air and opening and closing them like a hand puppet, tucking hands into armpits and flapping them like a chicken, wiggling shoulders or hips, and clapping. This is distinct from the steps of Austrian folk dances.

Thirdly, while Austrian folk dances have specific tunes and figures that are put together, the Chicken Dance does not originate from this cultural context. Austrian folk dances, or Folkloretänze, have a predetermined sequence, with an opening dance, subsequent series of dances, and a closing circle dance. The Chicken Dance, on the other hand, was created independently of these traditions.

Additionally, Austrian folk dances are often accompanied by specific instruments such as the Styrian harmonica, fiddle, clarinet, harp, flute, and brass bands, with contrabass or guitar as common accompaniments. Drums, for instance, are not used in Austrian folk-pop music. In contrast, the Chicken Dance is typically played on the accordion, both in its original composition and in its various recorded versions.

Finally, Austrian folk dances are deeply rooted in rural traditions, some of which have survived in fragments. They are an integral part of the national cultural heritage, with a focus on bringing people of different ages and ability levels together to dance. The Chicken Dance, on the other hand, gained popularity in clubs and restaurants and has become a global phenomenon, often performed at weddings, parties, and festivals, including Austrian Oktoberfest.

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