Our Dance Development programme aims to support the development and flourishing of English folk dance in areas such as youth and adult learning, participation, and practitioner development.
We want more people – and a wider range of people, in communities across England – to experience and enjoy English folk dance.
Thank you to our supporters
We kick-started this Dance Development programme in 2015 thanks to generous legacies received from the late Rita Smyth and Jennifer Millest.
We now need additional funding to continue this important initiative. If you may be able to help, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Chief Executive and Artistic Director, English Folk Dance and Song Society).
Or you can donate to Dance Development online now.
What is English folk dance?
English folk dance encompasses a rich diversity of dance forms that have developed over many centuries in communities throughout England. These traditions are alive and thriving as part of a living and evolving tradition, alongside many other forms of traditional dance present in England today.
Folk dance styles include:
- Morris: Cotswold, border, North West, molly and carnival
- Sword: rapper and longsword
- Percussive: clog and step dance
- Social: ceilidh, barn, country, Playford and Cornish
- Other: maypole, broom dancing and hobby horse
Discover more in our Beginners’ Guide to English Folk Dance.
Support for the grass roots
In November 2021 we awarded five Mini Grants to support social folk dance organisers who wished to return to dancing in person. Read more
Ongoing and upcoming events
We offer training and networking opportunities for folk dancers, educators and callers to develop their skills in dancing, teaching and leading in varied settings.
As well as running the Folk Educators Group and other professional development opportunities for educators, we deliver one-day training courses. We are continuously developing new partnerships with dance organisations to deliver these courses and events around the country.
Watch now: Getting Back to Dancing in Person
A recording of a focussed event on 18 September 2021 for all social folk dancer callers, organisers and educators. Mutual support and sharing of thoughts, experiences and challenges ahead as we get back to dancing in person post Covid-19 restrictions.
Meeting hosts: Laura Connolly (EFDSS Dance Development Manager) and Kerry Fletcher (Folk Education Network Co-ordinator), with Rachel Elliott (EFDSS Education Director).
Speakers: Jane Curry and Andrew Findlay from The London Barn Dance Company; John Sweeney, folk dance caller and organiser of Kent Ceilidhs and Contrafusion; Dr Wendy Timmons, Vice Convenor of the Traditional Dance Forum Scotland and Programme Director, MSc Dance Science and Education, University of Edinburgh.
A few other past events
#DancePassion 2019 - watch a video of award-winning clog dancer Laura Connolly's workshop, which was streamed by the BBC in 2019 as part of their #DancePassion event. Watch the video
How To Teach English Social Folk Dance – sharing knowledge and skills in teaching in schools, community settings and adult learning.
Keeping Folk Dancers On Their Feet – an introduction to safe and effective dance practice.
Steps for Success: English Social Folk Dance Today – a national conference at Cecil Sharp House in March 2018, presented in partnership with People Dancing. Find out more and watch the film.
Work with Young People
Folk dance is an inclusive, accessible, sociable and fun dance form. Working with young people is important because they are able to learn valuable skills and knowledge, inspiring the next generation of folk dancers.
Folk dance in schools and colleges
Education programme – we work with dance in education in varied contexts.
Folk Dance in Schools – this short film shows different folk dance styles in creative learning projects at all key stages in schools across England.
Youth Dance
We create partnerships and championing youth folk dance across the country, including with One Dance UK’s U.Dance national youth dance festival.
Here are videos of a few past youth dance projects:
Dance Resources
We produce many high quality resources for teachers and dance educators.
Resource Bank – freely downloadable materials, including teachers’ notes, audio files and video. Including pre-selected Dance Resources.
Folkshop – books and CDs to support dance teaching, including best-sellers, English Traditional Dancing and Community Dances Manual.
The Folk Dance Playlist – a diverse selection of folk dance tracks, curated by our Dance Development Manager, Laura Connelly. The playlist covers a wide variety of style, tempo and regionality.
Dance at Cecil Sharp House
Find out more about our regular English Country Dancing and Morris Dancing classes for adults, Youth Ceilidhs and Family Barn Dances.
Still more evening dances and ceilidhs are presented by other organisations at Cecil Sharp House.
Get in touch
Laura Connolly, Dance Development Manager (part-time) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Join our Education Newsletter to keep up to date with our work.
Donate now to support our Dance Development.
