A fast, lively dance that originated in central Europe, usually danced by couples in a bouncy up-and-down style to music with a strong beat.
From Czech 'půlka' meaning 'half,' possibly referring to the half-step movements in the dance. The dance became popular in the 19th century and spread across Europe and America.
The polka exploded in popularity during the 1800s and actually helped unite people across different countries—it was like the viral dance challenge of its time, spreading from Prague to Paris to New York before anyone had the internet!
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