Austria's Polka: Cultural Artifact Or Musical Import?

Polka is a dance and genre of dance music that emerged in the mid-19th century in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. While generally associated with Czech and Central European culture, it quickly spread across Europe and became popular in ballrooms from Prague to Paris, London, and beyond. Given its origins in Bohemia and its subsequent association with Austrian folk music and culture, it is not surprising that polka was seen as an artifact of Austria and other Central European countries.

Bohemia as the birthplace of polka

Bohemia, the westernmost historical region of the present-day Czech Republic, is the birthplace of the dance and music genre, polka. It originated in the region in the mid-19th century and was first mentioned in the periodical Bohemia in 1844. The dance is believed to have been created by a young Bohemian woman named Anna Slezáková, who was noticed by a music teacher, Josef Neruda, dancing unusually to a local folk song. Neruda then popularised the dance by writing down the tune and teaching other young men to dance it.

The dance soon spread to Prague's ballrooms by 1835 and then to Vienna, a classical music hub, by 1839. In 1840, it was introduced in Paris by a Prague dance instructor, Johaan Raab, and became so popular that it was referred to as "polkamania". The dance spread further to London in 1844, where it was considered highly fashionable, and was also introduced to America, where it became especially popular with Central, Northern, and Eastern European immigrant groups.

The name "polka" is believed to derive from the Czech word "půlka", meaning "half-step", referring to the short half-steps featured in the dance. The term was changed to "polka" as an expression of honour and sympathy for Poland and the Poles after the November Uprising of 1830-1831. The dance is also said to have evolved from the waltz, becoming a quicker version of the dance.

The polka has various styles and tempos, with different regional variants developing as it spread throughout Europe and the Americas. The Bohemian National Polka, choreographed by Czech dance historian František Bonuš, is an example of a long and complex choreography intended for stage performance. The dance has also influenced classical composers such as Bedřich Smetana, who incorporated the polka into his opera "The Bartered Bride".

The evolution of the dance from Bohemia to Austria

The dance and music genre of polka is said to have originated in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) in the 19th century. The dance is characterised by fast, rhythmic steps, and is often performed at festivals and celebrations. The name "polka" is believed to derive from the Czech word "půlka", meaning "half-step", referring to the short half-steps featured in the dance.

By 1835, the dance had spread to the ballrooms of Prague, and by 1839, it had reached Vienna, the imperial capital of Austria. It was in Vienna that the dance became a symbol of sophistication and refinement, with the Viennese Waltz also becoming popular during this time. The polka was further propagated by the music teacher Josef Neruda, who taught other young men to dance it. By 1840, the dance had been introduced to Paris by Prague dance instructor Johaan Raab, and it quickly spread to London and America, where it became a popular ballroom dance.

As the dance spread, variants started to develop, with unique styles emerging in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Tyrolia, and Slovenia. Polka remains a popular folk music genre in many European countries and is performed by folk artists in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and, to a lesser extent, in parts of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Russia, and Slovakia.

In conclusion, the evolution of the dance from Bohemia to Austria demonstrates how cultural exchange and innovation can lead to the creation of new art forms that can be enjoyed by people all over the world.

Polka as a folk music genre in Austria

Polka is a genre of dance music and dance style that originated in the 19th century in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. It is generally associated with Czech and Central European culture, but it is popular throughout Europe and the Americas. Polka is a dance style performed in pairs, with half-steps and turns in a circle.

Polka is a popular folk music genre in many European countries and is performed by folk artists in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and, to a lesser extent, in parts of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Russia, and Slovakia. Local variants of this dance are also found in the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Latin America, the French Antilles, and the United States.

In the 1850s, polka spread among Belarusians and was transformed by the national culture. It merged well with Belarusian traditional dance due to its similar meter. Belarusian polkas are rich in their choreographic and musical patterns and are distinguished by great modal and intonation diversity. Polka demands both skill and physical endurance from dancers.

Polka is especially popular in the United States in places with a high concentration of European immigrants, such as Wisconsin, where it is the official state dance. In Wisconsin, the "Beer Barrel Polka" is played during the seventh-inning stretch and halftime of Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks games.

Polka was also incorporated into classical music by composers such as Bedřich Smetana, who included it in his opera "The Bartered Bride." The Strauss family in Vienna, known for their waltzes, also composed several polkas.

The influence of immigrant communities in America on polka's popularity

Polka is a dance and music genre that originated in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) in the 1830s. It is characterised by a fast 2/4 time signature and was popularised in the US by immigrants from Europe, particularly in the Midwest. The dance was first introduced to the US in the 1840s and became a popular ballroom dance, especially among Central, Northern and Eastern European immigrant groups.

Polka evolved into various new forms in the US according to the place of origin of its players, with distinct Polish, Slovenian, Bohemian and Dutchman styles still recognised today. The music and dance were also influenced by the local culture of the immigrant communities that adopted it. For example, the "Polish polka" as we know it today was never actually danced in Poland, but rather evolved from Polish folk dancing.

The Slovenian-American style of polka, also known as the Cleveland style, is generally played at a smoother tempo and features different instrumentation from other styles. The main melody instruments in the Slovenian band are the accordion and tenor saxophone, with a banjo or guitar added to bolster the rhythm section. The epicenter of the Slovenian-American style of polka is undoubtedly Cleveland, and it is also popular in Pennsylvania and in many other cities in the Great Lakes region.

The Polish-American style of polka is perhaps the most popular today. Polish Polka bands play not only polkas but also obereks, waltzes, and sometimes tangos. The hotspots for Polish-American polka are mostly in cities near the Great Lakes (especially Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee) and some East Coast cities.

German-American bands sometimes resist being labelled as "polka bands" because they perform not only polkas but also waltzes, schottisches, and various other ethnic forms of music. They prefer the term ""old-time". Their style is also sometimes known as "Dutchmen," a name derived from a band called The Six Fat Dutchmen (in this context, 'Dutchmen' refers to German people).

Mexican-American polkas, or "Conjunto-style" polkas, have roots in northern Mexico and Texas and are also called "Norteño". The conjunto sound originated from the Czech and German influence on Mexican-Americans in these regions.

In summary, the influence of immigrant communities in America on the popularity of polka is significant, with distinct styles of polka developing in different regions of the US according to the cultural background of its players.

Polka's association with rebellion and radicalism in Europe

Polka, a Central European dance and music genre, emerged in the mid-19th century in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). The dance is characterised by three quick steps and a hop, with a catchy 2/4 time signature and lively tempo. Polka's origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery, with one popular but unlikely tale claiming that it was invented by a servant girl in Bohemia. Historians believe it more likely evolved from the waltz, which had scandalised elites with the amount of physical contact between partners.

Polka quickly spread across Europe in the 1840s, a time of revolution on the continent. It was a dance of rebellion against the aristocracy, and its rapid tempo and energetic steps were seen as outrageous by high society. This very outrage, however, fuelled its popularity among the younger members of the elite, as well as the middle and working classes.

In the ballrooms of Prague, Vienna, Paris, London and beyond, dancers whirled in each other's arms to the sprightly, rapid tempo of the polka. The dance was also embraced by street urchins and working-class people, who chanted "Won't you dance the polka?". The dance's popularity crossed class lines, with everyone from the elite to the working classes taking part.

The rebellious nature of the polka is particularly evident when compared to earlier dances performed by elites, such as the quadrille and the minuet, which were more refined and involved less physical contact between partners. The polka, in contrast, encouraged close physical contact and frenetic movement, representing a radical departure from traditional aristocratic dances.

The polka's association with rebellion and radicalism extended beyond its steps and tempo. The name "polka" itself is believed to be derived from the Czech word "půlka", meaning "half-step" or "half", referring to the quick, short steps of the dance. However, the name was also an expression of honour and sympathy for Poland and the Poles following the November Uprising of 1830-1831. "Polka", meaning "Polish woman" in both Czech and Polish, was widely introduced into European languages in the early 1840s. Thus, the very name of the dance carried a message of solidarity and support for a nation in rebellion.

As European immigrants brought polka to the United States in the 19th century, it continued to be associated with rebellion and radicalism. In the US, the dance was embraced by Central, Northern, and Eastern European immigrant groups, who saw it as a way to maintain their cultural traditions in their new homeland. Even as the broader American culture moved on to new dance crazes, these immigrant communities kept the polka alive, reconceiving it as an important part of their European heritage. Thus, the polka's association with rebellion and radicalism extended beyond Europe, continuing to be a source of cultural resistance and solidarity for immigrant communities in their new homes.

Frequently asked questions