EDS magazine is the oldest folk music and dance magazine in the world. It is essential reading for anyone with a passion for folk arts, and has been published by the English Folk Dance and Song Society since 1936.
It’s been a very strange few months since the spring edition was published and, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn’t produce a summer edition. But now we are back with an autumn issue bursting with content.
Our cover story is about how even more dancers and organisations have moved away from the outdated practice of blacking up. We have strongly advocated this change for years, and we are delighted that the Joint Morris Organisations are taking a clear stance on it.
With social distancing, folk dancing has been a physical impossibility – except with your nearest and dearest. Rhodri Davies offers a virtual take on social dancing, making it possible to not only dance with, but also see friends you may not have seen for a while.
We were due to celebrate the 90th birthday of Cecil Sharp House in June – but lockdown blew all those plans out of the water. However, Mary Wilson-Jones celebrates in the pages of EDS with a personal account of her memories of the House over many decades.
Unfortunately, lots of live events such as concerts, festivals and dance gatherings have been cancelled due to the pandemic. And while many events have moved online, many musicians, singers and dancers have not been able to perform or work and need our support. Chief Executive and Artistic Director Katy Spicer shares ways we can all help them.
There are also regular features such as Folk’s Family Tree, plus plenty of news,features and interviews.
You can read selected sample articles online, but you need to be a member or subscriber to get the whole experience with the printed edition.
Front cover photo: Alton Morris dancer, Morri’arty Photography
