Sunday 13 September 2015

A Rattling Good Time


We've seen a lot of Morris Dancing and Molly Dancing on "By Stargoose And Hanglands" over the past couple of years, but there is another tradition which often slips under the radar of the casual visitor and even many folk enthusiasts. Step dancing didn't require the formality of organised sides or dressing up in funny costumes; all that was needed was a pair of workboots, a stone floor and someone who could knock out a rhythmic tune (or indeed sing one). 


All three could be found in most country pubs at one time. In these days when carpets, light shoes and piped music are more common there still remain odd enclaves where stepping survives and thrives. Some pubs in rural Suffolk such as The Swan at Worlingworth, among the Romany and Travelling community and the lifeboat crew from Cromer in Norfolk are three such. Down on Dartmoor there's a similar, even more common, tradition.


The step-dancing at the Traditional Music Day was an occasion for happiness and sadness. It was great to see so many young dancers but there was also a notable absence. Percy West, a great dancer who inspired and encouraged so many others sadly passed away earlier in the year.Leo Temple said a few heartfelt words before treating us to an all-too-brief display of brilliant stepping....


Simon Ritchie demonstrated the incredibly difficult feat (feet?) of step-dancing and playing the melodeon both together and simultaneously at the same time......

                                             

In the old pubs a musician would start up a tune and dancers would each dance, one after the other, till no one could dance any more. At the end of the afternoon many of the dancers recreated this spectacle as a grand finale....


You'll notice the wonderful age-range of the dancers and also how different styles creep in. Long may they continue to have a rattling good time!

Take care.




12 comments:

  1. I have never heard of this John. Fascinating and I am sure the sound it makes is wonderful.

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  2. How interesting - I hadn't heard of Step Dancing until I read this!

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  3. I'd never heard of it either, seems rather like a rural form of tap dancing.

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  4. I watched the three videos with delight. I was reminded of our several trips to the Canadian Maritimes in the 1990's. We attended a number of ceilidhs and there was always an exhibition of step-dancing or clogging. Clogging in also alive and well in the Appalachians. typically, I've lost an hour to youtube watching and listening.
    If you watch some of the videos you'll find that a 'soft'shoe' form of step-dancing is also popular.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKHWq4_uF3c&index=2&list=PL2YmkxLgMfd1Yt8iveacYl8pqJHeNO0OJ

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  5. Oh, so fascinating to watch or even just listen to...love it.

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  6. Those videos give a wonderful sense of a very welcoming gathering!

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  7. Have never seen or heard of this dancing, quite unusual and simple to start ad to enjoy

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  8. Yes, I did notice the range in age of the step dancers and think it's GREAT. This is a tradition that will likely live on and on.

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  9. Lovely to see these old dance traditions living on.

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  10. Wonderful! I've never heard of step dancing - how does it differ from clog dancing (apart from the clogs)? I guess these traditions developed into tap.

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  11. Gosh that hand/foot co-ordination needed by the melodeon player was wonderful to watch. A theatre company we like (Northern Broadsides) who visit our local theatre twice a year often incorporate this kind of dancing in their plays and it is a great joy to watch:)

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  12. I've always associated step dancing with Ireland and had no idea that it's an English tradition as well.

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