Editing Polka (section)

=== Belarus ===
In the 1850s, polka was expanded among [[Belarusians]], and was transformed by the national culture.<ref>''Shavyrkin M.'' Belarusian polka // [[Zvyazda]]: gazeta.  - 15 lutag 1997. - No. 32 (23133).  — P. 8.</ref><ref name="autolink1" /> In different regions, local variants arose, which assimilated with local choreographic folklore and gained popularity. The ease of penetration of the polka into Belarusian choreography was due to its degree of proximity to Belarusian national choreographic traditions.<ref name="autolink2">Polka // Ethnagraphy of Belarus: Encyclopedia / Ed.: I.  P. Shamyakin (gal. ed.) and insh.  - Minsk: BelSE, 1989. - S. 406</ref>

The 2/4 meter polka merged well with Belarusian traditional dance, which had a similar meter. For example, "[[Trasucha]]" ([[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: ''"Трасуха", "Trasucha"'' or ''"Пацяруха", "Paciaruchais"'') a symbol of a typical folk dance, from which it received its name, and polka.<ref name="autolink1" /> Most often in Belarus, the polka is performed in pairs, moving half a step with turns in a circle. The dance is decorated with a variety of small pas,<ref name="autolink2" /> often accompanied by [[chastushka]]e.

Belarusian polkas are extremely rich in their choreographic and musical patterns, and are distinguished by great modal and intonation diversity.<ref name="autolink1">{{cite book |author=Churko, Yulia Mikhailovna |title=Vyanok of Belarusian dances |year=1994 |oclc=52282243 |place=Belarus |pages=8, 88}}</ref> Polka demands both skill and physical endurance from the dancers.[[File:Polka finnish championship Pispalan Sottiisia.jpg|thumb|People dancing polka in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]] in 2006]]

Like the square dance, the polka also has many local variants: "Віцебчанка, Viciebčanka", "Барысаўская, Barysaŭskaja", "Ганкоўская, Hankoŭskaja", and the names were also given according to the peculiarities of the choreography: "Through the leg", "With a podkindes", "With squats", "On the heel", "Screw" and others.<ref name="autolink1" />