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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY CLYMER, BEYER, BOBACK, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, HESS, MURT, PALLONE, PARKER, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, SIPTROTH, STERN, WANSACZ AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 17, 2009 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 17, 2009 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Designating the polka as the official State dance of the |
2 | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and designating the square |
3 | dance as the official American folk dance of the Commonwealth |
4 | of Pennsylvania. |
5 | WHEREAS, The polka has become an important part of 20th |
6 | century America and Pennsylvania culture; and |
7 | WHEREAS, The polka is a product of the millions of Eastern |
8 | European immigrants that migrated to this Commonwealth; and |
9 | WHEREAS, The polka has been a popular dance and form of |
10 | cultural expression in this Commonwealth since the 1920s; and |
11 | WHEREAS, The "Pennsylvania Polka" is one of the most well |
12 | known polkas heard throughout the United States; and |
13 | WHEREAS, There are polka festivals throughout this |
14 | Commonwealth and the United States; and |
15 | WHEREAS, Numerous facilities that feature polka dancing can |
16 | be found throughout Pennsylvania; and |
17 | WHEREAS, The polka continues to be an important aspect of |
18 | Polish-American and other Eastern European cultures; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, The polka remains a popular dance and entertainment |
2 | form among the residents of Pennsylvania today; and |
3 | WHEREAS, Square dancing is, in itself, representative of the |
4 | melting pot of this nation, having been brought to this country |
5 | by pioneers; and |
6 | WHEREAS, The origins of American square dancing can be traced |
7 | as far back as 1450, as shown by its genealogical history, and |
8 | includes a multitude of dance forms from England, Germany, |
9 | Poland, Ireland, Scotland and Mexico; and |
10 | WHEREAS, Records in American history from 1651 show American |
11 | square dancing has been danced through the years dating back to |
12 | the days of the first settlers; and |
13 | WHEREAS, Square dancing offers fun and fellowship to both the |
14 | young and old as well as the handicapped, with no restrictions |
15 | as to race, color or creed; and |
16 | WHEREAS, Due to the popularity of American square dancing, |
17 | square dance federations have been formed in every state in the |
18 | United States and in most foreign countries; and |
19 | WHEREAS, Square dancing is the American folk dance which |
20 | includes squares, rounds, contras, clogging, country western and |
21 | line dancing; and |
22 | WHEREAS, Since 1951, square dance enthusiasts have joined |
23 | together for a National Square and Round Dance Convention; and |
24 | WHEREAS, Since 1994, the Pennsylvania Square and Round Dance |
25 | Federation has sponsored annual State square and round dance |
26 | conventions in this Commonwealth. |
27 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
28 | hereby enacts as follows: |
29 | Section 1. Official State dance of Pennsylvania. |
30 | The polka is hereby selected, designated and adopted as the |
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1 | official State dance of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and |
2 | added to the array of official symbols of this Commonwealth. |
3 | Section 2. Official American folk dance. |
4 | The square dance is hereby selected, designated and adopted |
5 | as the official American folk dance of the Commonwealth of |
6 | Pennsylvania and added to the array of symbols of this |
7 | Commonwealth. |
8 | Section 3. Effective date. |
9 | This act shall take effect immediately. |
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