5. The Polka as a Czech National Symbol

This essay explores how the Polka was established as a Czech national symbol during the middle of the nineteenth century. It traces the dance from its appearance in Czech national circles to the peak of its popularity in Paris, and offers insight into the Polka’s transformation as it became a national symbol during the second half of the century. It argues that the myth of the Polka as a national dance was a product of the collective endeavour of Czech patriots and artists. Although it eventually became a constant value of Czech national culture itself, the essay discusses the Polka as a fusion of different social, cultural, artistic and ideological-political perspectives.