Conductor AND Musician Charles Hazlewood explores the history of

[salymap]

Clog Dancing, learning some of the steps and meeting the characters keeping it alive........culminating in a 6 minute surprise performance in a busy square in Newcastle.

BBC4 TV 7pm tonight. You've got to give him credit for being versatile.

[Mary Chambers]

There was a programme about folk dancing last night. I knew people still did morris dancing, but I didn't realise how many varieties of folk dancing there were stilll were in England, or how alive it still is. When I was young I knew people who belonged to the English Folk Song and Dance Society (or is it Folk Dance and Song?) but I never did. The other thing that struck me is what a very male world it is. Women only seem to be allowed reluctantly, if at all.

Conductor AND Musician? Whatever next? Oh, dancer, obviously

[Petrushka]

Auditioning for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing perhaps?

[mercia]

like his flat cap, a wippet and ferret-down-the-trousers would complete the image

(I shouldn't make silly comments, I didn't actually watch the programme)

[salymap]

I enjoyed it. Another world to a Kent/SE England person but a fascinating glimpse of a byegone age and not a million miles away from tap-dancing, surely. Well done CH.

[Mary Chambers]

I watched it, but I found it quite dull until the end where they danced in public. I just don't enjoy watching dancing that only involves the feet, however clever the feet are. I suspect it's more interesting to do than to watch, and it's certainly a better way of spending your spare time than many things. Nice to see so many people involved, though.

In last night's programme they showed a very similar type of dancing in Suffolk, though I don't think they wore clogs, and they called it 'step-dancing'.

[JoeG]

As a folk music & dance enthusiast (& long time ex morris dancer - Hart & Hounds Morris from Hartlepool) I thought both programmes were very good. The main criticism would be that the programme last night did not include any of the numerous womens' morris teams. Its not such a male world as it appeared I am glad to say.

[Chris Newman]

It was great to watch. About three years ago I was talked into joining a Morris team. I had previously done some Mummers Plays and thought Morris would be a fun way of keeping fit and continuing to preserve this folk tradition. Sadly I had a heart attack before I even went to a first practice session: Murphy's Law. However, with this programme, it was a lovely priviledge to see so many people having fun, working and playing as a COMMUNITY. That is what we should all be doing in one form or another. It made my day when CH said what I think of Health And Safety killjoys. The programme should be played often.

[salymap]

It's on again tonight, Sunday, at 11.35pm on BBC4 followed by a lotmore related programmes on Folk Dancing.

[BBMmk2]

I watched the programme. Makes a great change to see something that was worthwhile for the licience fee!! Although probabl;y the Unkthank sisters were not pprobab ly the right people to present the year programme.

[Ferretfancy]

I'm sorry I missed it -- iPlayer beckons! Incidentally, although clog dancing has cropped up as a media topic a number of times lately, nobody has yet mentioned its great eulogist Bill Tidy. I used to have all 12 volumes of his famous strip " The Cloggies " making it my main source of reference for anything north of the Trent. In fact, i can still execute a double reverse Arkwright when in the right mood!

[3rd Viennese School]

Where there is morris dancing there is normally a beer festival not very far away!
3VS

[Uncle Monty]

I enjoyed it. Another world to a Kent/SE England person but a fascinating glimpse of a byegone age and not a million miles away from tap-dancing, surely. Well done CH.

Sorry, a bit late on this thread due to computer trouble. I've been involved in this folkie stuff off and on over the years.

Salymap, there's a lovely crowd not a million miles from you who use clogs all the time. They're called Copperfield Clog, based in Higham near Rochester, and they dance all over the region. They have a website at http://www.copperfield-clog.org.uk/ If the weather improves by about June, do seek them out!

Mary Chambers -- yes, I too was embarrassed by the "men only" nonsense at that one venue. This is now very unusual, practically unheard-of. There are thriving women's sides all over the country, accepted and welcomed. That "debate", such as it was, melted away at least a generation ago.

[Bryn]

[Uncle Monty]

I think I remember that one! Wasn't that where they were "away" to the Bull & Veterinary Surgeon, Pendleton?! "Dirty dancers, but big and experienced, like"?