Schuhplattler

The Schuhplattler is a traditional style of folk dance popular in the Eastern Alps, specifically originating in Upper Bavaria, Tyrol, and Salzburg. In this dance, the performers stomp, clap, and strike the soles of their shoes (Schuhe), thighs, and knees with their hands held flat (platt). The more than 150 basic Schuhplattlers, as well as marches and acrobatic feats, are often interspersed with the basic dance in performance. They may be seen today in Europe and in German-immigrant communities around the world. While the Schuhplattler is still largely performed by adults, it has become increasingly popular with youngsters, who love its colorful costumes and its bouncing, leaping, kicking, and choreographed horseplay.