Schubert's dances were often composed for actual dancing. This collection of dances from May 1823 is also thought to have originated at a Schubertiade, a gathering of friends. It can be said to be one of the most well-known works among Schubert's numerous dance collections. Its publication was carried out in 1864 as Op. 171, edited (anonymously) by Brahms, who owned the autograph manuscript.

Each dance fundamentally consists of easy-to-dance four-bar phrases, repeating the same pattern. What is noteworthy is the key relationships among the 12 dances. When reinterpreted enharmonically, all of them are related by closely related keys (dominant, subdominant, parallel major/minor, relative major/minor) or by a third. Therefore, each dance, despite having various characters, flows seamlessly into the next.

• 1. D major
• 2. A major
• 3. D major
• 4. D major
• 5. B minor – B major
• 6. G-sharp minor
• 7. A-flat major
• 8. A-flat minor
• 9. B major
• 10. B major
• 11. A-flat major
• 12. E major

Furthermore, the second piece in this collection is identical to the first piece in the German Dances, D 783, and the latter half of the eighth piece, though in a different key, can also be found in the latter half of D 783, No. 10.