This issue has quite an emphasis on dance, in all its forms, and also focuses on Cecil Sharp, in continuing celebration of the 150th anniversary of his birth.

The Singer, Song and Source feature is Hannah James & Sam Sweeney, whose song is ‘William Taylor’ collected by Cecil Sharp in 1903 from the two sisters, Lucy White and Louie Hooper.

John Messenger of Leominster Morris describes how they celebrated the centenary of Cecil Sharp’s visit to Herefordshire, when he noted tunes from John Lock and watched the Brimfield Morris Dancers. An earlier EDS article on Brimfield, by Roy Dommett, published in 1969, is available below to download for you to read.

And 2010 is the centenary of Sharp’s first visit to Sheffield’s Grenoside Sword Dancers. The present-day team decided to celebrate in a novel way.

Cecil Sharp’s diaries from his collecting trips to the southern Appalachians of America are now available on the web. Mike Yates introduces this fantastic resource.

There’s a feature on the National Youth Folklore Troupe of England (NYFTE) by Sherry Neyhus. And there’s a celebration of Swindon Folksingers’ Club and its organisers, Ted and Ivy Poole. There’s also some comment on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the Branching Out column.

Jackie Toaduff was a superb clog dancer in the 1950s and 60s. Chris Metherell and Alex Fisher recall his dancing, Ron Smedley remembers his impact then, and Demon Barbers clog dancer, Laura Connolly, talks about his impact today. Jackie’s autobiography has just been published.

Caller Cat Kelly has started a scheme to encourage new dance callers. Roger Nicholls’ Gold Badge citation is published.

Watch Jackie Toaduff dancing. A clip of Jackie Toaduff’s encore display at the EFDSS Royal Albert Hall Festival in 1964 can be seen at The Farne Archive . This is the only known film clip of Jackie dancing from this era.

Plus all the regular features – festive round-up, EFDSS Matters, news, reviews and dance events.

Music credits

Sound files that complement the features are included here:

‘William Taylor’ sung by Hannah James & Sam Sweeney, specially recorded for EDS. With thanks to Hannah and Sam. www.hannahandsam.co.uk