The Schuhplattler is a traditional folk dance from Bavaria and Austria. The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ...

Origins

The origins of this dance are found in an early courtship display (Balztanz). Although the form of this dance is known from the middle of the 19th century, older similar forms were practised. Such a dance was described in 1050 by a monk in the knightly poem Ruodlieb, wherein similar postures and movements of the Schuhplatter are depicted. For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Events Leofric becomes Bishop of Exeter Births Margrave Leopold II of Austria (d. ...

Style

The homeland of the Schuhplattler dance is Tirol, a region in Austria. This dance often accompanies a type of singing which is known as 'Yodelling'. In days gone by young men wished to impress marriageable young ladies with their dancing prowess. Initially the style was free without rules. Performed usually in a 3/4 time, one would carry out a series of jumps and hip movements to the time of the music. Characteristically the dancers will rhythmically strike their thighs, knees and soles of the feet, and stamp with the feet. Nowadays the dance is usually performed out of tradition, maintaining the older customs, and as part of the activities of Trachtenvereine (that is, societies which maintain traditional dress, songs and culture of earlier days).

See also

• Austrian folk dances
• Austrian folk dancing
• German folk dancing

This is a list of ethnic, folk, traditional, regional, or otherwise traditionally assiciated with a particular ethnicity, dances by ethnicity or country . ... Austrian folk dancing (see Austria) is mostly associated with Schuhplattler, Landler, Polka or Waltz. ...

External links

• http://www.gauverband.com/cms/ (The Official Site of Schuplattling in North America.)
• http://www.schwuhplattler.de/geschichte (a German language site)
• http://www.voigasplattler.at (a German language site)
• Schuhplattler, Folk Dancing, History, Pictures, Videos - "Kohlroesl-Buam" Gitschtal/Austria (a German language site)