The Chicken Dance is believed by the majority to be German. However, it was written in the 1950s by a Swiss accordion player named Werner Thomas. It had its ups and downs until released in the United States at a polka festival in the 1970s. The original name of the song was "Der Ententanz" (Dance of the Ducks.) or in French Danz du la Canard . Somewhere along the way it became the "Vogeltanz" (bird dance). Anyway back to the 70s when it came to America. Myron Florins, the accordion player on the Lawrence Welk Show called it “The most popular dance in America.” New York publisher Stanly Mills gained the publishing rites after hearing the song played at his son’s Bar Mitzvah. It caught on back in Europe where it is continually played at parties, fests, and any other gathering. This is not strange when one considers that blight wiped out most of the grape vines in Germany and blight resistant plants were brought in from California – meaning that all German wine is of California origin. Anyway – the depressing facts are that Larry the Cable Guy is really a Yankee and The Chicken Dance steps are American. Do with this information what you will…….