POLKAPOLKA

The Polka…The Polka…

……is a lively Central is a lively Central European European dancedance and also a and also a genregenre of of dance music dance music familiar throughout familiar throughout Europe and the Europe and the Americas. It Americas. It originated in the originated in the middle of the 19th middle of the 19th century in the century in the Czech lands

……and is still a common genre in and is still a common genre in Lithuanian, , Czech, , Croatian, , Slovenian, , Polish, , German, , Hungarian, , Austrian, , Italian, , Ukrainian, , Belarusian, , Russian and and Slovakian folk music. folk music.

Origin of the nameOrigin of the name

The name comes from the Czech word The name comes from the Czech word půlka—literally, little half—a reference půlka—literally, little half—a reference to the short half-steps featuring in the to the short half-steps featuring in the dance. The word's familiar form has dance. The word's familiar form has been influenced by the similarity to the been influenced by the similarity to the Czech word polka, meaning "Polish Czech word polka, meaning "Polish woman". The name has led to the woman". The name has led to the dance's origin being sometimes dance's origin being sometimes mistakenly attributed to Poland. mistakenly attributed to Poland.

MusicMusic

In light classical music, many polkas In light classical music, many polkas were composed by both Johann were composed by both Johann Strauss I and his son Johann Strauss Strauss I and his son Johann Strauss II; a couple of well-known ones were II; a couple of well-known ones were composed by Bedřich Smetana, and composed by Bedřich Smetana, and Jaromír Vejvoda, the author of Jaromír Vejvoda, the author of "Škoda lásky" ("Roll Out the Barrel")."Škoda lásky" ("Roll Out the Barrel").

skladateléskladatelé

Bedřich SmetanaBedřich Smetana

Johann Strauss I. and II.Johann Strauss I. and II.

Jaromír VejvodaJaromír Vejvoda

the author of the author of "Škoda lásky" ("Škoda lásky" (Roll Roll out the out the Barrel,Rosamunde,Barrel,Rosamunde,Sej-haj Sej-haj Rozi,Banda,Barril Rozi,Banda,Barril de Chopp…..)de Chopp…..)

Our childern at schoolOur childern at school

Our childern in the cinemaOur childern in the cinema