Folk Dance: Pat-a-Cake Polka
Whenever my siblings and I have taught folk dances, the Pat-a-Cake Polka has always proven the most popular. It is simple, lively, and great fun. This American dance can be used as an old-time dance (non-mixing couple dance) or as a mixer. The name, obviously, comes from a hand-clapping sequence in the dance.
The mixer version is a popular request at Civil War reenactments, and it allows re-enactors to exchange brief greetings and introductions. During the time of the Civil War, dance was a social function that allowed people to meet and interact in an environment that was non-threatening and also a whole lot of fun.
All of us enjoyed dancing the Pat-a-Cake Polka last weekend at a Civil War reenactment in North Florida. You can see photographs of the reenactment at my sister’s website, though we unfortunately forgot to take our camera to the Saturday night ball. I’ll be sharing more photographs and anecdotes later. In the photograph above you can see Next Sister, our pretty (loud) peanut hawker. She considers the Pat-a-Cake Polka her weekly cardiovascular exercise.
Preliminaries
Willing Dancers: The dance requires an even number of dancers. Twenty to forty dancers would be ideal for the circle formation; fewer couples might find it easier to use the scattered couple formation.
Delightful Music: The Pat-a-Cake Polka is danced in 2/3 time. You can use a 16-bar schottische or polka; the music can accelerate gently. Our favorite music for this dance comes from the album Big Band Polkas by Larry Chesky and his orchestra. Its demanding tempo will leave you out of breath, but it is great fun. Its only fault is the lack of an introduction; by the time I’ve started the music and rushed back to the dance set, we’re already a few measures into the dance. We just count it as part of the excitement. ;-)
Shall We Dance?
The dancers form a double circle (two concentric circles), gentlemen in the inside facing out, and the ladies on the outside facing in. Alternatively, a scattered couple formation can be used, in which couples are placed throughout the dance floor.
Couples can be joined by a traditional ballroom (closed) hold or a simple hand hold (gentleman’s hands below). The dance begins in a clockwise direction.
•Tap heel, toe, heel, toe. (4 beats)
Note: Since the dance begins in a clockwise direction, the ladies begin by tapping their left foot, and the gentlemen their right.
•Gallop four steps, clockwise. (4 beats)
Note: The gallop is a fast polka step. Step out with one leg, then bring the other up to it.
•If using a ball-room hold, switch to face counterclockwise direction. Tap heel, toe, heel, toe. (4 beats)
Note: Since the dance is now going in a counterclockwise direction, the ladies tap their right foot, and the gentlemen their left.
•Clap both hands on both your own knees three times. Clap both your partner’s hands three times. Clap your right hand to your partner’s right hand, three times. Clap your left hand to your partner’s left hand, three times. (12 beats)
•Turn right arm. Ladies slide to the left to a new partner. Gentlemen keep their place.
Variation: Gentleman may instead choose to link right arms with their partner and reel once before passing the lady to his right (clockwise).
Note: If using a scattered couple formation, the couples can use this time to polka round (non-mixing), or to say goodbye to their partner and find another before the next round (mixing).
•The dance begins with a new partner.
If you are a visual learner, you will appreciate the following video demonstration. Note, however, that the hand-clapping sequence differs from that I’ve outlined above.
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ELISSA said...
Oh, this is a really fun dance! Tiffany MacDonald (now Hector) had this dance at her wedding (with lively music provided by the Winton family), and it was such fun! —Elissa
Saturday, November 13, 2010 10:28 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
That does sound like fun!
Monday, November 15, 2010 08:14 AM
Friday, November 12, 2010