folk waltz

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traditional dances / nonstylized dances / partner dances

The waltz triggered a real dance revolution in Europe, not only in the ballrooms and bourgeois living rooms, but also inns and country houses. The rhythm of the waltz was heard in almost in every region of the country. The waltz was danced in a slow or moderate tempo, in pairs, with whirling, often with singing and choreographed figures. It was most often danced in small shuffled steps, on the entire foot.

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Folk musicians arranged waltz melodies in their own regional fashion. The folk waltz quickly became popular in the entire Poland. It received local names which most often derived from the name of the particular town or the text of the song accompanying the dance. The name "waltz" comes from the German Walz or Walzer. It is usually danced in a moderate or slow tempo, in 3/4 or 3/8 metre. In Ziemia Lubuska (Lubusz Land) and in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland), the walcerek (a regional form of the waltz) was very similar to the kujawiak. Folk waltzes were danced in pairs, with whirling and singing, often with choreographed figures. In Mazovia and in central Poland, the folk waltz was willingly danced by adults as a dance with figures. In the area of Kurpie (part of Mazovia) it was called okrąglocek (round), or simply toniec (dance). Folk waltz was danced in pairs, with whirling around a circle to four sides, smoothly, with small shuffled steps, to a rhythm slower than in the oberek. In Warmia and Mazury the waltz was danced to the song "Green rue, deep blue flower, deep blue flower..." smoothly, on the entire feet, and it was also called gładki (smooth), równy (flat), or okrągły (round). The waltz is also danced slowly and in a dignified manner by Lachy Sądeckie and Łącko highlanders. In some highland varieties of the waltz there appear accented footsteps, most often with two stamps for the change of direction of the turnover. Silesian waloszki are the most well-known group of folk waltzes in Poland. They are performed as independent dances or woven in-between multipart dances (e.g. the kowol). In general, waloszki are performed to the accompaniment of songs.

Dąbrowska, Grażyna W. Tańce Kurpiów Puszczy Zielonej. Warszawa: CPARA, 1967.

Drabecka, Maria; Krzyżaniak, Barbara; Lisakowski, Jarosław. Folklor Warmii i Mazur. Warszawa: Centralny Ośrodek Metodyki Upowszechniania Kultury, 1978.

Glapa, Adam; Kowalski, Alfons. Tańce i zabawy wielkopolskie. Wrocław: PTL, 1961.

Marcinkowa, Janina; Sobczyńska, Krystyna. Folklor Górnego Śląska. Warszawa: Centralny Ośrodek Metodyki Upowszechniania Kultury, 1973.

Sitka, Bogusław. oprac. Tańce świętokrzyskie. Kielce: Wojewódzki Dom Kultury, 2000.

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