The Polka: Why Vienna and Milwaukee do it different but the same
Updated: 12 hours ago
POLKA! Without oom-pah-pausing to think too hard, what does "polka" mean to you?
Whether your brain jumps straight to Johann Strauss Jr.'s Tritsch-Tratsch polka or hops right to Frankie Yankovic's Beer Barrei polka may have a lot to do with your heritage and geography.
While we could mull over all the varied thoughts the word "polka" conjures—from polka dots to Polish women to Weird Al—we're going to look exclusively at the polka's roots in Bohemia (now Czechia), and how this music and dance sensation made its way to Vienna and Milwaukee, taking on different forms. Why these two cities specifically? Because Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert returns to Milwaukee for the first time in 23 years during the 2026/27 concert season. Let the polka worlds collide!
The Polka folk-a-lore
As the story goes, in 1830, a music teacher named Josef Neruda spotted a young Bohemian woman named Anna dancing jauntily to a local folk song. Neruda jotted down the unusual dance moves and proceeded to teach the footwork to his friends.
The Czech word "půlka" means "half-step," so it is believed this is the origin of the half-tempo music and its half-jump step dance.
Polka evolution & revolution
In the early to mid-1830s, the fast-spinning Viennese waltz was an absolute craze. Young people were eager to outdo the speed and scandal of the waltz, as were dance music composers who wished to remain at the forefront of podium popularity.
The quick-paced choreography of the polka had begun to gain traction in Prague by 1835, solidifying itself as part of Eastern European culture.
Venturing to Vienna
Just a hop, half-step, and a jump away in Vienna, composers such as Johann Strauss and Joseph Lanner, who had popularized the waltz, had their eyes and ears on the polka. Vienna was known as music capital of the world, meaning many of Europe's finest and most popular musicians performed in the city. This made spreading polka's popularity a cinch. By 1839, Viennese composers had jumped on the polka bandwagon and brought the music to dance halls in Vienna.
Meantime in Milwaukee...
Just as polka was popping up in Vienna, a wave of European immigrants brought polka with them when settling in Wisconsin, before it was even a state. The large influx of German immigrants in the region resulted in the polka becoming Wisconsin's official state dance. (It also helps explain the amount of beer brewed in the state!)
Different polk's for different folks
Much as two chefs may flavour the same dish differently based on locally available spices and cultural tastes, polka's sound is flavoured by local influence, catered to suit regional appetites.
When the polka landed in Vienna, it naturally took on a more classical, orchestral sound that fit with the city's long musical history. Meantime, the polka in Milwaukee skewed more brassy and accordion-heavy, keeping in line with the group of immigrants who had packed the polka in their koffers.
Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert is a celebration of Viennese music, so our performances typically include polkas composed by the Strauss family, as well as waltzes, marches, and selections from operetta. Bringing this version of the polka to North American cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee is always a treat, as the music we love and grew up with shares the same family roots.
No matter which polka puts a bigger skip in your half-step, we're thrilled that the city known for Roll Out the Barrel is rolling out the red carpet for Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert. See you in Milwaukee—or one of our other 18 tour stops—as we ring in the new year together!
