HEEL AND TOE POLKA, also known as "Bohemian Polka" (Couple dance, useful own tune) All ballroom position. Shows up in 1850s with Dodsworth, still around in 1880s. Measure 1: On leading foot (man's left, woman's right) 1: Touch heel (possibly hopping on other foot while you're doing it) 2: Touch toe Measure 2: Turning polka halfway Measures 3 & 4: As above, starting other foot. Measures 5-8: Slides and something else, eg 2 slides to left polka turn starting on left 2 slides to right polka turn starting on right. Or 5-6: Three slides left, draw up to close 7-8: Three slides right, draw up to close. Or 5-8: Turning polka. HEEL AND TOE POLKA (From "Good Morning") Victorian/Edwardian/American Polka Couple dance. Waltz position throughout Count four to a bar Directions for man; reverse feet for woman. Counts ----- 1-2 Hop on right, extending left and touching left heel ("Heel") 3-4 Hop again and touch left toe behind right heel ("Toe") 5-8 Starting left, three slides and rest. ("Slide-slide-slide.") 1-2 Hop left, extending right and touching right heel ("Heel") 3-4 Hop again and touch right toe behind left heel ("and Toe") 5-8 Starting right, three slides and rest ("and slide-slide-slide") Followed by eight bars of traveling polka. (Note that Wirth, 1903, has the same footy stuff, but gives heel and toe and one bar of turning polka, getting halfway round, and calls it specially adapted for children.) Allison Thompson writes: --------------------------- My doubtless flawed memory of this (and it seems to fits to Jenny Lind) is Formation is 2 circles of dancers, men with their backs to the center. heel and toe (1&2) heel and toe (3&4) 4 chassees (R together R to R to with a little pause with weight on R (of course I'm thinking as a Lady--line of direction more accurate) foot): Then repeat to other side. 8 turning polka steps, then reform and repeat. I have no idea what primeval folk bog this sprang from.