By Scott Meeker
smeeker@joplinglobe.com
Cheep, cheep, cheep.
Flap, flap, flap.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
Clap, clap, clap.
Link arms with the people on either side of you and spin around, and voila, you’re doing the “Chicken Dance.”
At the annual Ernte Fest celebration in Freistatt, however, the dance is known as the “Ducky Dance.” Johnnie Ziebert, who fronts the Johnnie Ziebert Band — which has been performing polka music at Ernte Fest for more than 10 years — said it is one of the most requested songs at the event.
“It’s just about always,” said Ziebert of the requests. “It’s always real popular and we’ll probably play it a couple times (at Ernte Fest).”
He said he thinks it’s the simplicity of the dance moves that accounts for the song’s popularity.
“It’s just a fun dance that everyone can do, and everyone enjoys doing it,” Ziebert said. “All ages can get out on the dance floor and do it.”
The dance song was composed in Switzerland in the 1950s by accordion player Werner Thomas, according to the Web site for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com). The annual event in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States.
Thomas’ song was originally titled “Der Ententanz,” which means the “Duck Dance.” It has also become known as “Vogeltanz,” or the “Chicken Dance,” and also “Dance Little Bird.”
There are numerous versions of the song that have become hits, and it has become a staple at festivals celebrating German heritage.
Ziebert said he grew up around the sounds of the “Cleveland-style polkas” favored by his father, John Ziebert.
The Johnnie Ziebert Band was formed in the early 1990s, and was recently dissolved.
Ziebert said that he and his father will perform at this weekend’s Ernte Fest as a duo, with both men playing the accordion.
In addition to the “Ducky Dance,” he said that they will also perform other popular polkas as well as some toast songs that audiences can raise their beers to.
“I guess (the music) just encourages people to be happy,” Ziebert said.
