Sternpolka/en
Sternpolka (Doudlebska Polka, star polka)
Form
pairs in circle facing ballroom direction, unlimited number
Steps
walking steps (on each beat one step), polkaing round room
Dance
A1+A2, Bar 1 – 16: Polka
Turning to each other, pairs take closed dance hold (girl’s arms on partner’s shoulders, his arms round her back), or ballroom hold, and dance polka round room
B Bar 1 – 8: Star
Pairs in circle facing ballroom direction now, form the “Star”.
Boys form a mill wheel by putting their left arm on left shoulder of boy in front and right arm round partner’s waist. Girls put their left hand on partner’s right shoulder. In this formation all walk round circle ccw.
The “Star” can be one big one, but several smaller ones are preferred.
C Bar 1 – 8: Boy’s Circle Clapping
Girls now released by their partners go on walking round the boy’s circle looking for a new partner. They stop behind boy of their choice. At the same time boys turn to centre of circle and clap hands in the following way:
- 1st beat: own thighs
- 2nd beat: own hands
- 3rd beat: hands of neighbours
- 4th beat: pause or second clap to neighbours
In case there are several circles, girls can also move from one to an other.
A1+A2 Bar 1 –16: Polka with new partner
This is repeated several times ending with polka, then usually played double length.
Note
The “Doudlebska Polka” is a development of the Linzer Polka. Linz is the capital of Upper Austria. It is not evident where exactly this dance comes from. It is rather certain that it was brought from Linz to Budweis by musicians, who created the name Doudlebska Polka after a small village on their way home, where they had lunch. In Bohemia it was known under both names. From there it somehow got to the USA and has later returned to Europe.
In Austria now the name Sternpolka (star polka) is used, because the promenade has changed to forming a star. In the clapping part more and more often the “three beat” is used (thighs-own hands-partners).
There exist several variations of the Linzer Polka, only some of them being a mixer. All of them have three parts: promenade – clapping – polkaing round room, this sequence being changed only in the Doudlebska Polka
Source
- Herbert Lager, Alte Tänze für junge Leute
- Hermann Derschmidt, Tänze aus Oberösterreich
- Translated by: Sissy Banner, Amstetten, NÖ., Austria
MP3
- Here is a MP3-Datei from Dancilla.
