Originated in the 11th to 14th Centuries
The
Schuhplattle dance can be traced back to the 11th-14th century as a
Burschentanz (men only dance, women participating later
on). It is considered a mimic of the behavior of the
male Auerhahn, or Spielhahn, who courts the female by flapping his
wings and kicking up his feet around a circle. Likewise,
a Schuhplattler keeps his hands raised and, by slapping his feet and
Lederhosen, immitates the flapping of the Auerhahn's
wings. The woman plays her part in all this by twirling,
or spinning, as a way to challenge the man to show more in his
dance. Indeed, it is difficult for the man to "catch"
the moving woman to get to waltz with her.
There are many Schuhplatteln in the lower Germany (Bavaria), Austria, and some in Switzerland, each from their own town or region. Most of the dance names come from the town name. The Birkastoana Glöckerl, for instance, means "Birkenstein (the town) bells". Other dances from town names are the Meisbacher, the Reit im Winkl, the Haushammer, the Steire (a region in Austria), and the Ammerseer. Some are animals and general places, like the Auerhahn (the bird that brought about this form of dance), the Gamerlsprung (mountain goat spring, or leap), the Ambosstanz (blacksmith's dance), the Mühlradl (miller's wheel) and the Almtanz (mountain meadow dance).
Schuhplatteln are both an art form and, more importantly, a way of good living (the rural culture). The Tracht (formal dresswear) worn by the men and women dancers, has remained unchanged, for the most part, for over 200 years. The Bayern Verein Alpengrün Tracht dates back to what was worn in Bavaria in the mid- to late-1800's.
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