What is polka?
Polka is a bouncy, turning couples dance in 2/4 time with a hop-step-close-step. In the US it thrives in the Midwest — Polish-American, Slovenian-style "Cleveland" and German polka — and in Tejano and norteño dance halls.
History
Polka emerged in Bohemia in the 1830s and was the dance craze of 1840s Europe. Immigrants brought it to America, where Frankie Yankovic, Li'l Wally and Jimmy Sturr kept polka music alive; Wisconsin named the polka its state dance in 1993.
Basic technique
- Hop-step-close-step
- Turning in closed position
- Heel-toe and gallop variations
Music & tempo
Polka bands with accordion and brass, about 110–140 BPM.
Songs for polka
| Song | Artist | BPM | Key | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Letters | The Dreadnoughts | 110 | C major | 2017 |
| Scheissejal | Kasalla | 114 | A major | 2015 |
| May It Be (from The Lord of the Rings) | Lisa Kelly | 114 | A major | 2006 |
| Dausend Levve | Kasalla | 120 | F major | 2015 |
| Gavrilo | The Dreadnoughts | 120 | E minor | 2017 |
| Fuiste mía | Gerardo Ortiz | 120 | C major | 2015 |
| Minnie’s Yoo Hoo! | Saxophone Quartet | 121 | G# major | 1988 |
| Liechtensteiner Polka | Werner Müller | 122 | C major | 2007 |
| Apolkalypse Now | Polkastra | 123 | D major | 2009 |
| Back Home in Bristol | The Dreadnoughts | 123 | C major | 2017 |
BPM as measured by audio analysis; some tracks read at half or double the danced tempo.
What to wear
Comfortable shoes.
How to get started
Polka festivals, church picnics and Oktoberfests usually include open dancing.
Polka in historic images
Mr. Lambkin drunkenly dancing the polka and knocking over a tray of coffee, whilst his lov
Two couples are dancing and two children are following the same steps watched by their eld
Trafikaktiebolaget Grängesberg - Oxelösunds Järnvägar, TGOJ anordnar motionsdans. På bilde
Trafikaktiebolaget Grängesberg - Oxelösunds Järnvägar, TGOJ anordnar motionsdans. På bilde
Disc perforat
Openly licensed images via Europeana; rights statements on each item page.
Key partner-dance terms
Movies featuring polka
- The Gang's All Here (1943)
Recent research
- Sardinian Folk Dance for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2019
- Image analysis and teaching strategy optimization of folk dance training based on the deep neural network. — Scientific reports, 2024
- 3D Digital Model of Folk Dance Based on Few-Shot Learning and Gesture Recognition. — Computational intelligence and neuroscience, 2022
- The effects of folk-dance in schools on physical and mental health for at-risk adolescents: a pilot intervention study. — Frontiers in sports and active living, 2024
- Body Posture and Low Back Pain: Differences between Folk and Ballroom Dancers. — Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2024
Books about polka
- Polka King by Jimmy Sturr (2013)
- Jaromír Vejvoda by Slávek Ostrezí (1995)
- Circus polka by Igor Stravinsky (1942)
- Polka All-Timers by John L. Haag (1997)
- Polka Favorites by Hal Leonard Corp. (1992)
- Polka a lidové tance na Opavsku by Hana Podešvová (1956)
Encyclopedia summary
Polka is a dance style and genre of dance music in 24 originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though generally associated with Czech and Central European culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the state dance of Wisconsin?
The polka, adopted in 1993.
What BPM is Polka?
Polka is usually danced to music between 110 and 140 beats per minute. Browse 31 songs that fit on our Polka music page.
How many calories does polka burn?
About 368 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, based on a MET value of 5 from the Compendium of Physical Activities. See calories burned polka for every body weight.
Related styles
Viennese Waltz
Vienna, Austria
Country, Folk & Community DanceTexas Two-Step
Texas dance halls
Country, Folk & Community DanceSquare Dance
British, French and American folk dances; modern Western style in the US
Country, Folk & Community DanceLine Dancing
United States (country, disco and pop)
Country, Folk & Community DanceContra Dance
New England (from English country dance)
Country, Folk & Community DanceClogging
Appalachian Mountains
Last reviewed October 2026 · Editorial policy