EFDSS has had a good innings – 93 years!
Folk legends, musicians, educators, broadcasters, writers, staff, and dancers share their thoughts on our proposed new name, Folk England
“I really like the name of Folk England. Those of us who already love folk will probably know the history of the merging of the two societies, and the history of the name of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The name has meaning and gravitas. But Folk England has a clarity and simplicity that’s powerful. It foregrounds the land where the folk practices are happening. It’s inclusive.” Angeline Morrison - singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, EFDSS Board member
“Name changes are always difficult. We get used to things as they are and often respond negatively to changes. Folk England is economical and lines up with the naming of other contemporary organisations like Arts Council England and Sport England. ‘Folk’ at least gives an idea of the sort of area covered in most people’s minds, complex word though it is; and ‘England’ is a geographical place, whatever connotations individuals bring to it. The present name has had a good innings, 93 years, 113 years in its earlier form, but ‘efduss’ is fairly meaningless to most people. Time for change!” Vic Gammon - musician, researcher, writer
“Folk England has a strong ring to it – it feels contemporary without losing its roots. It suggests something living and shared, rather than fixed or exclusive and makes the folk arts feel like a space that’s open to all, not a club you need special knowledge to join. As someone working with both community and performance, that sense of reach feels really important.” Alex Merry - artist, illustrator, folk dancer, Boss Morris founder
“Folk England is a very welcome change from the pre-war designation, indicating that we’re about all the forms of folk music, song, dance and customs that happen in England now. It’s about ancient cultural history, but also what happens in English communities much changed from when the Society was set up. It’s clear, simple and all inclusive.” Ian Anderson - musician, broadcaster, writer, Gold Badge holder
“Folk England is much cleaner and is easier to understand and remember, especially for people who are new to the organisation and its work. EFDSS – pronounced “eff-duss” – confused me for a while when I first heard it. It’s also more inclusive of instrumental music (which is neither dance nor song) and other aspects of folk culture which the organisation covers. And it’s easy to remember!” George Sansome - singer, guitarist, Co-founder of Queer Folk
“Short, memorable, clear; I like it! Folk England sounds fresh and modern and means to me a good representation of folk from cultures that make up England today. It’s less descriptive so people will feel more inclined to look it up to see what you do.” Natasha Khamjani - Co-Artistic Director of Folkdance Remixed
“I’ve never been a fan of the word English – only because it raises more questions about what it means in today’s time. So, I was delighted to hear that Folk England is being considered as a new name. My own community of British Asians will be delighted to hear this!” Kuljit Bhamra - composer, producer, tabla player
“We love Folk England! It needs no explanation, it’s not such a mouthful, and it feels really diverse and inclusive. We do dance and sing, but we do many other things besides. Folk England sounds like a place where all kinds of folk culture can be celebrated together.” Carli Jefferson and Clair Le Couteur - Lunatraktors
“I like Folk England. Fe denotes iron, strong yet malleable. A solid base metal to work from, yet with a blacksmith’s skills can adapt and produce old and new ideas in response to cultural changes in our country. From a shoe for an old horse to iron as art in sculpture.” Gareth Kiddier - musician
“Shortly after I started working here 17 years ago, I realised that our current name was a barrier to many of the new and wider range of people we are keen to welcome to the world of folk arts. Many staff in schools, music educators, and other potential participants struggled to say the name (it’s long) and were under the impression that we were only interested in ‘English’ folk dance and music (in a very traditional and historic sense) so therefore felt that we might not be open to them. We have done a lot of work to shift this impression by the range of partners, artists, organisations and projects we have created over these years. It’s time for our name to catch up with us and signal loud and clear that our door, hearts and minds are open to forging links and joining hands with diverse folk dance and music traditions in England – whatever their origins.” Rachel Elliott - Education Director EFDSS
“Folk England will give the organisation a stronger brand. That is important because at the moment EFDSS is a confusing name, which people both inside and outside the folk community stumble over. When I try and point other musicians or music organisations towards EFDSS, it is a ridiculous challenge for them to understand or remember what I am saying, and if they do understand, the English Folk Dance and Song Society describes an organisation more elitist and with less of a focus on instrumentalists. Folk England much more accurately indicates what the organisation does.” Elye Cuthbertson - musician, composer, teacher, NYFE alumni
“The name, Folk England expresses exactly what the current EFDSS is all about – folk in England, whether song, dance, customs, instrumental music or anything else pertaining to folk activity. Most importantly, it makes no distinction between the various elements, and presents an inclusiveness that fits well with the diversity of English society today. Times change, the Society has moved to embrace the breadth of folk activity throughout the country, the new name reflects this and, hopefully, will attract new members who will see themselves as part of Folk England.” Barry Goodman - caller, singer, MC, Folk Arts Educator
Photo: Boss Morris at Spring Equinox 2022, by Ben Edge
