Schottische Dance

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The Schottische is one of the oldest of all dances, one of the most fundamental of the dance steps. In the earliest descriptions, it was called a "combination of two movements, a polka and a circular hop, the two combined making up a most agreeable variety". It is not a true Polka. As the two develop you can see the fundamental difference between them. Both use four counts and require the same steps on the first three counts (step, close-step, step). But on the fourth count, the Polka rests, and then at the very end of the beat, like a grace note, it calls for a quick hop or raise as a sort of preliminary to the first count of the next measure. While in the Schottische, one hops deliberately and squarely on the fourth count. The chief characteristic when the Schottische was first introduced into the ballrooms of the world, seems to have been the alternation of this step for the first two measures with a circular hopping movement for the second two measures. The hopping movement is simply a step and a hop on each foot alternately while turning clockwise in place. The Schottische was originally done in the dance position with partners facing each other throughout. Sometime in the 1890's it changed to an open position for the first part and a closed position for the turning part. It is this form that you will see being danced today.

Info was found at this link: http://www.freewheelers.org/1DancingFool/schott.htm