PRINTER'S NO.  653

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

653

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY CLYMER, BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GROVE, HENNESSEY, HESS, KNOWLES, MURT, QUINN, READSHAW AND ROCK, FEBRUARY 14, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 14, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Designating the polka as the official State dance of the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and designating the square

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dance as the official American folk dance of the Commonwealth

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of Pennsylvania.

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WHEREAS, The polka has become an important part of 20th

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century America and Pennsylvania culture; and

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WHEREAS, The polka is a product of the millions of Eastern

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European immigrants that migrated to this Commonwealth; and

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WHEREAS, The polka has been a popular dance and form of

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cultural expression in this Commonwealth since the 1920s; and

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WHEREAS, The "Pennsylvania Polka" is one of the most well

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known polkas heard throughout the United States; and

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WHEREAS, There are polka festivals throughout this

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Commonwealth and the United States; and

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WHEREAS, Numerous facilities that feature polka dancing can

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be found throughout Pennsylvania; and

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WHEREAS, The polka continues to be an important aspect of

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Polish-American and other Eastern European cultures; and

 


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WHEREAS, The polka remains a popular dance and entertainment

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form among the residents of Pennsylvania today; and

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WHEREAS, Square dancing is, in itself, representative of the

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melting pot of this nation, having been brought to this country

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by pioneers; and

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WHEREAS, The origins of American square dancing can be traced

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as far back as 1450, as shown by its genealogical history, and

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includes a multitude of dance forms from England, Germany,

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Poland, Ireland, Scotland and Mexico; and

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WHEREAS, Records in American history from 1651 show American

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square dancing has been danced through the years dating back to

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the days of the first settlers; and

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WHEREAS, Square dancing offers fun and fellowship to both the

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young and old as well as the handicapped, with no restrictions

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as to race, color or creed; and

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WHEREAS, Due to the popularity of American square dancing,

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square dance federations have been formed in every state in the

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United States and in most foreign countries; and

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WHEREAS, Square dancing is the American folk dance which

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includes squares, rounds, contras, clogging, country western and

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line dancing; and

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WHEREAS, Since 1951, square dance enthusiasts have joined

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together for a National Square and Round Dance Convention; and

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WHEREAS, Since 1994, the Pennsylvania Square and Round Dance

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Federation has sponsored annual State square and round dance

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conventions in this Commonwealth.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Official State dance of Pennsylvania.

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The polka is hereby selected, designated and adopted as the

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official State dance of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and

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added to the array of official symbols of this Commonwealth.

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Section 2.  Official American folk dance.

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The square dance is hereby selected, designated and adopted

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as the official American folk dance of the Commonwealth of

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Pennsylvania and added to the array of symbols of this

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Commonwealth.

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Section 3.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect immediately.

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