A discussion of the need for folk dance education and teaching: an article by Madeleine Smith in EDS magazine, Spring 2011.

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............I have taken up the editor's challenge in the last EDS to refute the suggestion by Colin Hume and Nicolas Broadbridge that country dancing is languishing in England, unlike the States.

.............The success of (Kennedy's) system (of dance teaching) depended on having high standards of dance technique to aspire to in the second and third levels discussed above, and on training teachers and callers...

............The system worked well but financial constraints reduced EFDSS teaching staff and dancers... seemed to lose interest in having high standards.....

..............Interestingly, attitudes are now beginning to turn full circle. Newer dancers both at ceilidhs and in clubs are eager to learn dance skills...

..........Festivals used to run dance technique workshops.

..............(nowadays) Festivals can facilitate callers who are interested in passing on their skills by running more callers' workshops and seminars. Training days and conferences, and possibly apprentice/shadowing schemes are ways forward.


I may reproduce more of the text or the full article later on SeeRed. For now - buy the magazine if you are interested or borrow the copy sent by EFDSS to your local affiliated dance club! EFDSS telephone enquiries: 020 7485 2206.


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