The Polka

{1844 - Present}

The Dance

The Steps

Slide along LOD (1), close along LOD (and), step over across LOD (2), hop (and) [WP44, CD44, LN44, HC45, GS45]. Some sources include a preliminary hop on the "and" before 1 [CD44, LN44, WP44].

OR: Slide along LOD (1), close along LOD (and), slide over across LOD (2), hop (and) [GS45]. Some sources include a preliminary hop on the "and" before 1 [GS45].

As with most waltzes, all versions of the polka described above can also be turned to the left [CD44, LN44, WP44, HC45].

Variations

Unlike most 19th century couple dances, which were mostly limited to right and left turns, pursuit, and balance, the Polka had a variety of fun variations from the very beginning:

Pursuit: Back the Lead or Follow along LOD [AM44, CD44, LJ44, LN44, WP44, HC45, GS45].

Pursuit and Turn: Back the Lead four bars, turn to the right four bars, then back the Follow four bars, and turn to the right four bars [CD44]. Or the same, but turning to the left after backing the Follow [CD44]. Another version of does the pursuit in one direction (e.g., along LOD), and the turn in the other (i.e., against LOD) [CD44].
Free Pursuit: Same as pursuit, but with no hands (Lead's hands on hips) [CD44].
Linked Pursuit: Back the Lead, with the Lead's hands on his hips, and the Follow's hands both linked through the Lead's right arm [CD44].

Vis à Vis: Holding inside hands, face each other on the first half of the step (vis à vis), and face away from each other on the second half (dos à dos) [AM44, CD44, LJ44, LN44, WP44, HC45].

Promenade: Holding inside hands, both polka straight forward along LOD [GS45].

Heel Clicks: Two heel clicks (click-side-close, click-side-close), then a full turn of Polka [HC44].
The Square: Polka in a square (in place), turning 90° on each half instead of 180° [CD44].
Heel and Toe: Hop slightly twice, placing the heel pointed slightly in front (1), then the toe pointed closed (2), then turn halfway to the right (3-and-4), repeat opposite to complete the turn (5, 6, 7-and-8) [HC44, LN44, WP44].

Heel and Toe in a Square: The heel and toe step, turning 90° on each half instead of 180° [HC44].
Heel and Toe, Casting: The heel and toe step, in alternating half-closed positions. The Lead casts himself across from inside to outside lane on the first turn, and casts the Follow across to the outside lane on the second turn [HC44, WP44].

Separate: Separate from partner, and perform the steps (e.g., turning, pursuit) near each other, but solo [WP44].

The Music

Polka music.

Sources

AM44 — Atwill's Music Repository (pub.). (1844). The New-York Polkas, with Correct Description of the Polka. New York.

See Original Description

HC44 — M. Cellarius. (1844). The Celebrated Bohemian Peasant Polka Dance. New York.

See Original Description

CD44 — Charles D'Albert. (1844, May). A Set of Brilliant Polkas Composed by E. Schulz, Pugni, and Burgmüller, the Figures by Monsr. D'Albert. London.

See Original Description

LJ44 — Jullien. (c. 1844). Jullien's Celebrated Polkas, No. 1 - The Original Polka. London.

See Original Description

LN44 — London Illustrated News. (1844, May 11). "The Drawing-Room Polka." The Illustrated London News. London.

See Original Description

WP44 — W. H. Plumstead (music). (c. 1844). The Fashionable Ball Room Polka, Elegant & Grotesque, Containing Accurate Instructions How to Dance It. London.

See Original Description

HC45 — Hugh Cunningham (pub.). (c. 1845). How to Dance the Polka! and All the Quadrilles, German Waltz, Highland Reels, &c. &c. London.

See Original Description

GS45 — George Lemore Saunders (ed.). (1845). Rock's Ball-Room Hand Book, Quadrille Preceptor, Cellarius Instructor, Mazurka and Polka Companion, and Valses à Deux Tems Danseur. London.

See Original Description

HC47a — Cellarius. (1847). La Danse Des Salons. Paris.

See Original Description

HC47b — Cellarius. (1847). Fashionable Dancing. London.

See Original Description

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

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