Resources
Our Resources section brings together guides, tools, and links to support dancers, callers, and organisers of English Folk and Country Dancing. Whether you’re looking for clubs, music, dance videos, or practical advice, these resources will help you enjoy and share the dance community with confidence.
For dancers
Dance with us
We host events featuring visiting callers and musicians from overseas, bringing fresh talent and new experiences to dancers. Wherever possible, we hold these events at different locations across the UK to make them accessible to more people. Go to our events page to see what’s coming up.
Find other dances
Many folk dance clubs host special events, and we list these on our events page. If you would like your club’s event listed, please get in touch.
Find a local club in your area
English Country Dancing is enjoyed all across the UK, with many local clubs welcoming new dancers. Use our directory to find a club near you and join in the fun: Friends of English Dance Directory.
Dance festivals
Across the UK you’ll find a wonderful variety of folk festivals and dance weekends, bringing dancers together to celebrate music and tradition. Visit our events page to discover what’s coming up: Friends of English Dance Events.
Steps and figures
Music for dancing
Music is at the heart of English Folk and Country Dancing, and having the right tunes makes all the difference. Whether you want to listen for inspiration, build a playlist for practice, or purchase recordings for your club, we’ve gathered some great places where you can find music perfectly suited for dancing.
For Callers
Dance instructions
We host events featuring visiting callers and musicians from overseas, bringing fresh talent and new experiences to dancers. Wherever possible, we hold these events at different locations across the UK to make them accessible to more people. Go to our events page to see what’s coming up.
Dances by choreographers
Dances collections
- The Country Dance Book – Most of the source of Cecil Sharp’s six volumes
- Thomas Green’s list of barn dance information including lots of dances
- Playford’s Dancing Master: The Compleat Dance Guide
- Antony Heywood’s Dance Database
- information and instructions for all the dances in the third volume of the Barnes book.
- Dances that have a “local” connection, being devised by members of folk dance clubs in the Mersey and Deeside area (MADFolk).
- Regency dances of the 18th and 19th Centuries
- Dances from English Dance & Song – 1921-1989
- A selection of ten simple English dances that we recommend for beginning callers and/or beginning dancers.
- Dance Figures Index: English Country Dances, 1650-1833
- Dance Figures Index: American Country Dances, 1710-1830
- The Dancing Master 1651-1728: An Illustrated Compendium
- The best of the Country Dance and Song Society Diamond Anniversary Music, Song and Dance Contest. Gems
- An index of country dances and where they are published by Hugh Stewart
- John Brown’s list of English Ceilidh Dances
- Thousands of dance instructions
- Dancing Maggots – Instructions for nearly 1000 English/Contra dances collected by Michaels Barraclough
Dance Annimations
Dance videos
Many folk dance clubs host special events, and we list these on our events page. If you would like your club’s event listed, please get in touch.
Music for dancing
See our listfor dancing in the For Dancers section above.
Positional calling
Positional calling is an inclusive approach to English Folk and Country Dancing that focuses on dancers’ positions rather than traditional gender roles. These resources offer guidance and examples for callers who want to lead dances in a way that’s clear, accessible, and welcoming to everyone.
A virtual workshop led by Louise Siddons to introduce participants to positional calling — sometimes described as global terminology — for ECD/Playford.
5 Things… Inside the Dancing Mind of… Brooke Friendly
An evening chat focused on Global Terminology/Positional Calling with Brooke Friendly
Louise Siddons provides notes for callers on how to use positional calling effectively
Louise Siddons provides a Starter Kit for New (Positional) Callers
Gender-free calling
Gender-free calling helps make English Folk and Country Dancing inclusive for everyone, removing traditional gender roles from instructions. These resources provide guidance, examples, and best practices for callers who want to lead dances in a way that’s welcoming and accessible to all dancers
Lisa Heywood discusses the importance of gender-free calling and offers some practical tips on how to get started.
A collection of resources for gender-free dance teaching from a range of styles from Lisa Heywood
Diane Silver outlines a number of ideas for both organizers and callers to consider when switching to gender-neutral language.
Caller development
Calling is at the heart of English Folk and Country Dancing, guiding dancers through each step and figure. Whether you’re an aspiring caller or looking to refine your skills, these resources offer guidance, tips, and support to help you develop with confidence.
For Organisers
Privacy Policy
This section provides guidance for dance clubs and other organisations on creating their own privacy policies. It explains how to handle personal data responsibly and what information to include. For practical advice, see the ICO’s guide for small organisations.
PRS/PPL Licence
Guidance on licences for using live and recorded music in your dance events. For more information, visit PPL PRS.
Resources for organisers
The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) offers a collection of resources specifically for organisers of English Folk and Country Dance events. Explore their guidance, tips, and practical tools on the CDSS Resource Portal.