DE · EN

Dances and classes

What is danced anyone can learn

From the first waltz to the great Munich Francaise: the six dances of the Kocherlball and the three ways to learn them, with or without a class.

The repertoire

Six dances, one morning

The Kocherlball's repertoire has been stable for decades, and that is deliberate: these are dances anyone can learn in minutes.

Waltz3/4 time

The backbone of every ball. Turned at an easy pace, often the first dance of the day.

BoarischerRound dance

The typical Bavarian couple dance in duple time, lively and down to earth.

ZwiefacherMixed metre

Switching between turning and waltz time within one tune. The Old Bavarian speciality.

Polka2/4 time

Fast, sociable, easy to learn. The dance nobody sits out.

LandlerFolk dance

A leisurely Alpine turning dance, one of the oldest at the ball.

Munich FrancaiseGroup dance

The figure-rich highlight in rows and squares, guided by the dance master.

Learning

Three ways to join the dance

  • At the ball

    Just join in

    The group dances are taught in the morning, figure by figure. This is the classic way; it is how most people learn.

  • Beforehand

    City programmes

    In some years the Department of Arts and Culture offers preparatory taster classes, most recently within the summer programme in Munich's parks. The city's announcements for the current year are worth a look.

  • Year-round

    Open folk dance circles

    Munich has a lively folk dance scene with open evenings where beginners are welcome. Master the Zwiefacher once and you never forget it.

Nobody needs a class to enjoy the Kocherlball. The guidance on site is enough, and watching with coffee and a pretzel is an entirely legitimate discipline.

Questions about the dances

In brief

Can I join in without knowing how to dance?
Yes. The group dances are taught on the spot in the morning, step by step. Joining in without any experience is explicitly possible.
Are there dance classes to prepare for the Kocherlball?
In some years Munich's Department of Arts and Culture offers preparatory taster classes, most recently as part of the summer programme in Munich's parks. Year-round, the city's open folk dance circles welcome beginners.
Who leads the dances?
The city announces dance leaders who explain the figures; most recently Katharina Mayer and Magnus Kaindl guided the dances.
What is a Zwiefacher?
An Old Bavarian dance that switches between turning and waltz time within one tune. It counts as the little royal discipline, but like everything at the Kocherlball, getting it wrong is forgiven.

The rest is practice

And the best practice happens on the third Sunday of July.

See the date