You have to agree that, whatever we call this thing we do – maybe “social folk dance” – it is hardly a mainstream activity. Yet despite its small size, it is a community riven with factionalism. Ceilidh dancers rarely overlap with Playford dancers, except a bit at festivals. Most contra dancers don’t attend “Playford” dances. In North America, callers tend to be either contra callers or ECD callers. Why have we divided into dance sects when an outside observer would need some time to sift out the differences from the common core? Is this a healthy situation? Could we – individually and as groups – learn valuable things from one another? Cooperate to raise the profile of folk dance? Rhianwen Davies and Victoria Yeomans are our panellists and Ali Messer is our host.
Please note that at the time of this programme, the Friends of English Dance was known as the Friends of Cecil Sharp House. We are not affiliated with the English Folk Dance and Song Society and no longer have any connection with Cecil Sharp House.