Does Polka dance have anything to do with Poland?

Answer 1

Yes, it does have a connection to Poland and Polish traditions, especially among Polish-Americans and Polish-Canadians. The origin of the dance however derives from Bohemian dance traditions in what is today the Czech Republic. The dance and its music having originated around 1830. The Czech inspiration for that dance could possibly have originated with Polish folk dances in and around and to the south of the city of Krakow. The word "Polka" being Czech for "Polish girl". The dance made its way to Prague from the Bohemian country side around 1835 and from there to Vienna, Paris, Berlin and Londay by 1845. It arrived in New York the same year and was accepted by all classes including the upper classes who adopted it as a salon dance along with the waltz. Its popularity at this time was also felt in Poland and east into Russia. It became a popular dance among Poles and continued as such into the first half of the 20th century. Rural Polish communities brought it to the larger Polish cities where it was associated with the Polish working class. It was also brought to the U.S. and developed by Polish immigrants and their children in major urban areas from New England, through New York and into Ohio, Chicago, Detroit as well as Polish rural communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Two major styles of Polish American polka developed the "Eastern Style" and the "Chicago Style". The dance and the music has played an important roll in Polish American identity. Although Polish immigrants of the past 40 years from Poland have not typically embraced it, its is the 2nd and 3rd generation - who are today older - that continue to dance and enjoy this style of music. Other important American polka styles include German, Slovenian, Czech, Ukrainian (in Canada) and Mexican (Conjunto in Texas). Each with its own style and development in North America.