The Chotis

Other dances

The Chotis

Undoubtedly the most popular Chotis is called the "Madrid, Madrid, Madrid" by the great Mexican composer Agustín Lara.

In Argentina, was introduced by Chotis Volga Germans settled in the country, and is the basis of what later became chamamé

Chotis Madrid

The Chotis arrived in Madrid in 1850 and was first danced at the Royal Palace on the night of November the 3rd that year, under the name Polka Germany. Since that time, achieved great popularity and became more pure dance of the people of Madrid, to become a symbol of Madrid on holiday.

According to the journalist José Lara, the Chotis, was introduced to Madrid by a Sicilian immigrant, and organ accompanist, Mrs Abbruzense that during a stay in Vienna learned the secret of Pianolas and was the first to bring them to Madrid, installed in his studio Calle de San Francisco. Here in Madrid the so called "organs", the music and rhythms brought by Austrians called Schotis dazzles the chulapos madrileños. In the streets of Madrid, at the Cava Baja, there's a bar that remembers this story and whose name is Schotis.

Dance

To dance Chotis is not complicated. Couples, who are dressed in typical costumes of chulapos of Madrid, dance it like this:

The man with one hand under the woman and with the other hand, inside the pocket of the vest and with both feet together, revolves round the edge of his shoes, while the woman dances around him. When the music indicates it, the couple gives three steps back and three forward and restarts turns.

In a well danced Chotis, he just turns in the space of a surface of brick or tile, and always looking forward.

You can learn to dance in Chotis Vistillas next to the Royal Palace and the San Isidro Praderade during the festival of the patron saint of Madrid.