Schuhplattler
Encyclopedia
The Schuhplattler is a traditional Austro-Bavarian folk dance
evolved from the Ländler
.
are found in an early courtship
display (Balztanz). Such a dance was described in 1050 by a monk of Tegernsee Abbey
in the knightly poem Ruodlieb
, wherein similar postures and movements of the Schuhplatter are depicted.
region of Europe in Upper Bavaria
(Germany), in the adjacent Austrian states of Tyrol
and Salzburg
, and in South Tyrol
. 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 Tracht
en-Vereine (that is, societies which maintain traditional dress, songs and culture of earlier days).
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
evolved from the Ländler
Ländler
The ländler is a folk dance in 3/4 time which was popular in Austria, south Germany and German Switzerland at the end of the 18th century.It is a dance for couples which strongly features hopping and stamping...
.
Origins
The origins of this social danceSocial dance
Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing...
are found in an early courtship
Courtly love
Courtly love was a medieval European conception of nobly and chivalrously expressing love and admiration. Generally, courtly love was secret and between members of the nobility. It was also generally not practiced between husband and wife....
display (Balztanz). Such a dance was described in 1050 by a monk of Tegernsee Abbey
Tegernsee Abbey
Tegernsee Abbey or the Imperial Abbey of Tegernsee is a former Benedictine monastery in the town and district of Tegernsee in Bavaria. Both the abbey and the town that grew up around are named after the Tegernsee, the lake on the shores of which they are located...
in the knightly poem Ruodlieb
Ruodlieb
Ruodlieb is a fragmentary romance in Latin verse written by an unknown southern German poet who flourished about 1030. He was almost certainly a monk of the Bavarian abbey of Tegernsee....
, wherein similar postures and movements of the Schuhplatter are depicted.
Style
The homeland of the Schuhplattler dance is the East AlpineEastern Alps
Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. North of the Splügen Pass, the Posterior Rhine forms the border, and south of the pass, the Liro river and Lake Como form the boundary line.-Geography:The...
region of Europe in Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany.- Geography :Upper Bavaria is located in the southern portion of Bavaria, and is centered around the city of Munich. It is subdivided into four regions : Ingolstadt, Munich, Bayerisches Oberland , and Südostoberbayern...
(Germany), in the adjacent Austrian states of Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
and Salzburg
Salzburg (state)
Salzburg is a state or Land of Austria with an area of 7,156 km2, located adjacent to the German border. It is also known as Salzburgerland, to distinguish it from its capital city, also named Salzburg...
, and in South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
. 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 Tracht
Tracht
Tracht is a traditional national costume in German-speaking countries. Although the word is most often associated with Austrian and Bavarian costumes, many other peoples of Germany have them.-History:...
en-Vereine (that is, societies which maintain traditional dress, songs and culture of earlier days).
External links
- Boston Grammar School Schuhplattler Group in England (English)
- Bavarian Schuhplattler Dance Troupe in North America
- Geschichte des Schuhplattlers (German site)
- Alpentänzer Schuhplattler (English)
- Pichler Voigasplattler (German)
- Schuhplattlergruppe Kohlrösl-Buam Gitschtal (German)
- Schuachplattlogitschn Vahrn (German)
- Schuhplattlergruppe Tramin - Südtirol (German)
- Gauverband Nord Amerika (English)
- Holzhacker Plattler - Tegernsee (German)