polka
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polka
A fast, lively couple dance in 2/4 time that originally comes from Bohemia and is popular in folk and entertainment music.
Auf dem Volksfest tanzten die Paare ausgelassen Polka zur Musik der Blaskapelle.
At the folk festival, the couples danced the polka exuberantly to the music of the brass band.
polka
A piece of music in the rhythm and character of the polka dance. Many classical music composers wrote polkas.
Das Orchester spielte als Zugabe eine bekannte Polka von Johann Strauss.
As an encore, the orchestra played a well-known polka by Johann Strauss.
The name 'Polka' (polka) comes from the Czech word 'půlka', which means 'half.' It refers to the short, quick half-steps that are characteristic of the dance.
Der Name des Tanzes beschreibt also seine typische Schrittfolge.
So the name of the dance describes its typical sequence of steps.
You can usually tell whether the dance or the piece of music is meant from the verb. Verbs like 'tanzen' (to dance) or 'lernen' (to learn) refer to the dance. Verbs like 'spielen' (to play), 'komponieren' (to compose), or 'hören' (to hear/listen to) refer to the music.
Auf dem Fest haben alle bis spät in die Nacht Polka getanzt.
At the festival, everyone danced the polka until late into the night.
When 'Polka' (polka) refers to the dance, it is almost always combined with the verb 'tanzen' (to dance). The fixed combination is 'Polka tanzen' (to dance the polka).
Mein Opa hat meiner Oma beigebracht, wie man Polka tanzt.
My grandpa taught my grandma how to dance the polka.
When 'Polka' (polka) refers to a piece of music, it is often used with verbs such as 'spielen' (to play), 'komponieren' (to compose), or 'dirigieren' (to conduct).
Johann Strauss hat viele berühmte Polkas komponiert.
Johann Strauss composed many famous polkas.
Rhinelander
Polka and Rheinländer are fast partner dances in 2/4 time and are related to each other, but they are not the same dance. Polka refers to the originally Bohemian dance, while Rheinländer refers to a distinct dance that was especially popular in the 19th century. The shared time signature alone therefore does not determine the name.
Beim Tanzkurs übt das Paar heute eine schnelle Polka aus Böhmen.
At dance class today, the couple is practicing a fast polka from Bohemia.
Beim historischen Tanzabend übt das Paar heute einen schnellen Rheinländer.
At the historical dance evening, the couple is practicing a fast Rhinelander dance.
