Tall Tales #1 Challenge - Polka Dots

The story: In 1834, a young spirited woman from Bohemia named Anna Slezáková is said to have originated the popular dance known as the Polka. It is a little known fact that it was originally called The Polka Dot. The name was shortened to simply “The Polka”, I suspect because the dancers were so out of breath after a few turns around the dance floor.

In the 1950’s a group of avid Dalmatian-loving Polka dancers tried to create a new variation of that famous dance. As a tribute to their dogs, they called it the Polka Dot Line Dance. You can see them pictured here, taking directions from the choreographer, attempting to get the bugs worked out. But try as they might, the new dance was a mess, a total failure. It was blamed on the dogs who were not as attentive as everyone had hoped.

Fast forward just a few years to the 1970’s. After the big mistake of the Polka Dot Line Dance, some country western dance enthusiasts were inspired by the Polka Dot Line Dancers. (Yes, the PDLD actually did a few performances before their early demise.) These CW folks decided to try again with some peppy dance steps.performed in a line. And so was born what we now call Line Dancing.

Truth is stranger than fiction...

Credits: Background from Nancie Rowe Janitz. Elements from Just Jamie, Mommyish, Valorie Wibbens, Amy Wolff, Little Butterfly Wings, Quirky Hearts, Kate Hadfield. Font is Bodoni Bk BT.