Polska (dance)

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The polska (not to be confused with the polka) is a folk dance and dance rhythm, common in Nordic folk music and folk dances. The word means Polish in Swedish (in Polish it means "Poland" and "Polish"), and is short for Polish dance. Some people believe that the dance does have Polish roots; it is possible that it originated when king Sigismund Vasa (Sigismund III of Poland, Sigismund I of Sweden) travelled to Sweden for his coronation and was accompanied by Polish musicians. Others think the denotation Polish is a misconception. Originally, the polska was danced in one spot. Influences from the waltz changed the polska into a travelling dance, where the couples move in a circle around the dance floor.

There are three main types of polskas:

  • the semiquaver or sixteenth-note polska (somewhat similar to the polonaise)
  • the quaver or eighth-note polska (somewhat similar to the mazurka)
  • the triplet polska.

The oldest form of the polska is the eighth-note one, distinguished by a long second beat and highly accented first and third beats. Styles of polskas vary considerably in different Nordic regions. In Finland, the sixteenth-note polska is played almost exclusively. A Norwegian variety of polska, played with faster music, is called pols. A version of sixteenth-note polska related to the polonaise is slängpolska, which includes turns under the arms similar to swing dancing or salsa. The largest local variety of polskas preserved in Sweden can be found in the regions Dalarna and Småland, where places like Malung, Orsa, Bingsjö, Rättvik, and Boda all have given their names local variations; bingsjöpolska is danced smoothly and evenly, where the head should not dip up and down.

See also:

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