Jake Harper
The Chicken Dance, a well-known drinking and dancing song, has become a staple at American Oktoberfest events. The dance was introduced at the Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest in 1981. The original song, composed by Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas in the 1950s, was called Der Ententanz or The Duck Dance. However, the organizers of the Tulsa Oktoberfest were unable to find a duck costume and opted for a chicken costume instead, thus giving birth to the Chicken Dance. The dance became an instant hit, and today it is a must-have at every Oktoberfest celebration around the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The song was composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s. |
| Original name | "Der Ententanz" or "The Duck Dance" |
| Introduction to Oktoberfest | Introduced at the Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest in 1981. |
| Popularity | It has become a tradition at Oktoberfest celebrations and is also popular at weddings, particularly in cultures that include polka music. |
| Dance moves | The dance involves hand and arm movements that mimic a chicken's beak and wings, followed by shaking the hips and clapping. |
| Costumes | Dancers often wear bird costumes, specifically chicken costumes, during the performance. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Chicken Dance was originally called 'The Duck Song'
- The dance was created by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s
- The Tulsa Oktoberfest in 1981 was the first to use a chicken costume
- The dance involves mimicking a chicken's movements
- It's a popular dance at weddings, especially in cultures with polka music
The Chicken Dance was originally called 'The Duck Song'
The "Chicken Dance" is a well-known drinking and dancing song at American Oktoberfest events. It is also a popular dance at weddings, particularly in cultures that include polka music. The song was composed by accordion player Werner Thomas from Davos, Switzerland, in the 1950s. Thomas is said to have been a birdwatcher who wrote the tune based on how ducks moved when they swam. The dance moves involve moving your hands like a duck's beak, flapping your arms like wings, and bending your knees to walk like a duck. The original name of the song was "Der Ententanz", which means "The Duck Dance".
In 1981, the song and dance were performed during the Tulsa, Oklahoma Oktoberfest. The local television station provided a chicken costume for a dancer at the festival, and this is said to have given the "Chicken Dance" its American name. The German band that performed the song at the festival couldn't find a duck suit for the performance, but they found a chicken suit, and that's how the "Chicken Dance" was born.
The song has since become a tradition at Oktoberfest celebrations, with over 140 versions recorded worldwide, including some released by Walt Disney Records. It is also known as the Bird Dance, the Little Bird Dance, the Birdie Dance, Dance Little Bird, Tchip-Tchip, the Bird's Dance, Dance de Canards, Song of the Chicken, and many more.
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The dance was created by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s
The Chicken Dance, a staple at Oktoberfest celebrations, is often assumed to be a German tradition. However, the dance was actually created by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in the 1950s. The original song, composed in 1955, was called "Der Ententanz", which translates to "The Duck Dance" in English. Thomas performed the song in ski resorts for tourists and continued to tweak it over the years. By 1963, he had developed a dance to accompany the melody, with movements that imitated a duck's beak and wings. The final part of the dance involved wiggling one's behind, mimicking the act of skiing, a nod to Thomas's Swiss heritage.
The dance made its way to the United States in the 1970s and became popular at German-inspired festivals like Oktoberfest and Wurstfest. It was in 1981, at the annual Oktoberfest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that the dance became known as the Chicken Dance. The organizers wanted to engage the audience more, so they asked a German band to perform the Ententanz. The band couldn't find duck costumes, so they settled for chicken suits, and thus, the Chicken Dance was born.
The Chicken Dance has since become a global phenomenon, with the song selling over 40 million copies in 42 countries. It is now a tradition at Oktoberfest celebrations worldwide, enjoyed by people of all ages. The simple, playful nature of the dance, combined with its catchy melody, has ensured its enduring popularity at festive gatherings, particularly those with a German theme.
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The Tulsa Oktoberfest in 1981 was the first to use a chicken costume
The Chicken Dance is a well-known feature of Oktoberfest celebrations, particularly in the US. However, the dance is not German in origin, but Swiss. Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas created the song and dance in the 1950s. The original song was called "Der Ententanz", or "The Duck Song".
In 1981, a German band performed the song at the Tulsa Oktoberfest in Oklahoma. They wanted to wear duck costumes, but they could only find a chicken costume. The band performed the dance in chicken costumes on TV, and the rest is history. This is how the Chicken Dance was born, and it has since become a tradition at Oktoberfest celebrations.
The Chicken Dance became a popular tradition at the Tulsa Oktoberfest, with thousands of chicken hats sold each year. The dance is a simple and fun way to celebrate community, with dancers flapping their arms like wings and shaking their tail feathers. The song has also been a commercial success, selling over 40 million copies in 42 countries.
The Tulsa Oktoberfest has fully embraced the chicken theme, with chicken hats and other paraphernalia becoming a popular part of the festival. The Chicken Dance has also spread beyond Oktoberfest, becoming a staple at weddings and other celebrations, particularly those with German or polka music influences.
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The dance involves mimicking a chicken's movements
The Chicken Dance, a staple at Oktoberfest, is not German in origin as many would assume, but Swiss. The song, originally called "Der Ententanz" (The Duck Dance), was composed by Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas in the 1950s. The dance moves were developed by Thomas in 1963, and they involve mimicking a chicken's movements.
To perform the Chicken Dance, one must mimic a chicken's movements. The dancer lifts both hands into the air and opens and closes them as if operating a hand puppet, simulating a chicken's vocalizations. Then, the dancer tucks their hands into their armpits and flaps their arms like a chicken, mimicking the flapping of wings. Next, the dancer wiggles their shoulders and/or hips to shake their "tail feathers". Finally, the dancer claps four times.
The dance made its debut at the Tulsa Oktoberfest in 1981. The original German song was performed by a band, and a local television station provided a chicken costume for one of the dancers. This new twist on the dance was well-received, and it has since become a tradition at Oktoberfest celebrations.
While the Chicken Dance is a beloved feature of Oktoberfest, it has also spread beyond this festival. It can be found at weddings, state fairs, and other cultural events, particularly those with German influences. The dance is often led by a dancer in a bird costume, adding to the festive atmosphere.
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It's a popular dance at weddings, especially in cultures with polka music
The Chicken Dance is a popular dance at weddings, especially in cultures with polka music. The dance was composed by Swiss accordionist Werner Thomas in 1957, though he claimed the tune first came to him in 1955. Thomas performed the song in Swiss hotels and restaurants from the 1950s to the 1960s, and it was copyrighted in 1969. The song was originally called "Der Ententanz", meaning "The Duck Dance", as it was inspired by the way ducks display themselves after preening.
In 1972, music producer Stanley Mills brought the song to the United States, where it was renamed "Dance Little Bird". Mills commissioned original English lyrics, but they failed to catch on. Despite this, the song gained popularity in cities with large polka-loving communities, such as Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Austin. It was played at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and local dance bands. In 1981, a German band played "Dance Little Bird" at an Oktoberfest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and taught the crowd how to do Thomas's Duck Dance. This helped the song gain traction and develop a following.
In 1982, Milwaukee-based organist and polka composer Bob Kames recorded and released his own version of the song, titled "Dance Little Bird" or "The Chicken Dance". Kames' version became a huge success, selling 300,000 copies in Poland alone. The song was also translated into Brazilian Portuguese in 1984, contributing to the success of multiple gold albums. The Chicken Dance has since become a staple at weddings, particularly in communities with a strong polka music culture.
The dance is often performed by one or more dancers in bird costumes leading a crowd. It has five discrete moves that can be learned in under a minute, making it accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages. The music typically begins with repeated dominant chords before moving into the main theme, with alternating secondary themes that feature contrasting rhythms. The simple and catchy nature of the song, combined with its social aspect, has likely contributed to its enduring popularity.
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