We used to be taught English Folk Dancing at school - back in the day. It's such a shame someone somewhere decided indigenous peoples of the British Isles should lose their traditions. Sad really. But it is still going despite their efforts.
The 1st dance is Roxburgh Castle, a village dance from Northumberland in the North East of England. Then the slower waltz is Miss de Jersey's Memorial written by Pat Shaw, a well known folklorist in the 1940-70 period. Miss de Jersey was the English Folk Dance Society's headquarters pianist (for classes) in the 1940s Then we have Pins and Needles, again from Northumberland. And lastly Dorset Four-Hand Reel, from Dorset in the South West of England. The performance was given at a Gathering in the Headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Camden Town, London, by one time members of 'London Folk', the National Dance Team. But you should note, as the gentleman said, the last time we had danced this was 25 years earlier!!! We always started out shows, when we represented our country abroad at International Folk Festivals, with this routine. Happy days! Hope that helps. David (past Musical Director).
Takes me back to the Saturday afternoon primary school trips to dance English Country at Cecil Sharp House in the 1950's. I seem to remember we always closed the sessions with "Good Night Ladies".
As and English person bought up with it, it's always a strange experience encountering (the vast majority) of videos of Americans doing "English Country Dance."
Wow! Their dancing is as good as when I filmed them in1979. As to the ranting, Chris, they learned from Nibs Matthews who was the best, smoothest raster ever. I don,t care about its origin , good dancing should not be suppressed.
I forgot to mention the penultimate dance which is Rant Gone Wrong, composed again by Pat Shaw; a commission by me for a strange folk ballet I did a long time ago!
2 44 27... (Unbelievable)! Andree was not popular at Whitehill junior school... She was accused of being: "Too posh"! However, that did not deter me from dancing with her. I fell madly in love with her when she was dancing with me in Mr Greens folk dancing lessons... We danced well together... Even though I was the naughtiest boy in the whole of the school! Now I am an awesome GREENE KING and she is definitely one of my 3 GWEN O VIERRES... Definitely a divinely (F3)minine goddess of the highest order!
Hi Chris, London Folk was primarily a display team. The steps and dances were about shape, rhythm, and tempo not to provide scholarly dance realisations. Having said this, it may interest you to know that the Dorset Four Hand Reel done was noted by Mr F Masters of Bridprot, Dorset and further investigated by Peter Swann and the Ashmore Group prior to publication in Community Dance manual 5, 1957. The notations contained within include 'stepping' -very closely equivalent to today's rant step.
To those wondering why there was a display team doing medleys of what are social dances, there was a reason. These social dance display teams were basically used as propaganda by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS). Look at the pictures of, say, the early Sidmouth Folk Festival (in the 1950s) and you'll see these dance groups dancing on the seafront parade, where now you'll see Morris dance sides. They were there to demonstrate the dances and to encourage involvement. To propagandise and get people interested and to attend Country Dance events.
So what are allowed to do in the Midlands? People have always ranted all over the country. It is a living tradition! Because it is fun! I was taught the dance with a rant 50 years ago - ranting wherever you live is not new! :-)
It’s similar to German dances. Is this type of dance from the Anglo-Saxon era, or was it developed much later? I’m guessing this is where American country dances came from since America started with English settlers. Sunday - May 9, 2021.
Why are they ranting in Dorset Four Hand Reel at the end of the clip? Ranting is a North East step. Dorset is of course in the SOUTH of England. Steps in the South were light, silent, elegant and close to the ground, This demonstrates once again the EFDSS's complete disregard for our folk dance traditions and styles.
They're doing a reel step, and fancy stepping in Dorset Four Hand Reel was part of the dance. If you want to see the faster, low, energy efficient (you can do it for several dances) rant step in Country Dances, it's the North East that you want. It's not the big showy polka step of Northwest Morris or Dorset Four Hand Reel.
