The Schottische, which originated as a Bohemian dance, has since spread to a variety of countries and been adapted to a variety of musical genres. With its series of two runs and a hop combined with four turning steps, this country dance is relatively easy to master and has just the right moves to work with a variety of settings. Here are some of the highlights of the schottische’s history as it spread across many countries and cultures.
The origins of schottische dancing can be traced back to the Victorian era. For much of the period, the schottische dance was considered an important part of the folk dance craze. During this time, the schottische began to spread across Europe, gaining popularity among European folk music and dance traditions.
Variations of the schottische, for example, have become popular in France, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. Composers in each country began to compose music that was ideal for dancing with the schottische, as expected. Schottische music helped to popularize the dance moves and kept them at the forefront of popular dance throughout the nineteenth century.
The schottische made a foray into the New World at the turn of the century, establishing itself in the United States. The schottische adapted to the local culture, blending with ragtime to create a hybrid. These newer schottische and ragtime combinations, known as hot schottisches, were written and performed notable ragtime composers like Thomas S. Allen and Buddy Bolden.
The popularity of this newer version of the schottische aided the spread of ragtime in general and even influenced the direction of American jazz music. It was difficult to find a club in New Orleans during the first two decades of the century that did not feature music suitable for the schottische dance.
Throughout the rest of the twentieth century, the schottische grew in popularity, becoming an important part of country and western dancing, particularly promenade dancing. The polka-like movements helped the schottische connect with country western fans, as well as some folk and bluegrass fans. Following a successful debut in the United States, the schottische began to gain traction in South American countries, particularly Brazil.
Modern schottische dancing has a strong connection to reggae and continues to influence country music line dancing. While the dance has undergone some changes over time, schottische dancing continues to thrive in a variety of cultures, with a loyal following of dancers to keep it alive.