Stepdancing

 

What is stepdancing?

 

Stepdancing is a vernacular form of tap dancing, where individual dancers improvise a sequence of steps, most frequently to a hornpipe tune. The sound of the steps is probably the most important aspect, and the dance, although energetic is not particularly dramatic. Dancers are usually self-taught, and dance in informal settings mostly in pubs and other social gatherings where there is a suitable atmosphere and music. If more than one dancer is present, they will often dance in turn. These days, stepdancers often carry a wooden board with them, as so many floors are carpeted. Some dancers add blakeys to their shoes to enhance the sound, others prefer a pair of leather-soled shoes.

 

  Brian Whatling                      Percy West                     Richard, Ben & Fiona Davies       Doreen O'Connor        Amy & Jess Chilvers

                                                                                                                                                                     & Lenny Whiting

 

Where can you see stepdancing?

 

In East Anglia, stepdancing survives outside the rarefied air of the folk festival and club, and is still danced freestyle in pubs and village halls wherever there's some music. Virtually any Old Hat Concert Party event will include stepdancers, and many Rig-a-Jig-Jig events in Norfolk also include stepping. Our Traditional Music Day attracts more stepdancers every year, and we run several events during the day where you can watch stepdancing, talk to the dancers and have a go yourself, although there is no formal teaching on the day.

 

Outside East Anglia, you are most likely to find stepdancing in Devon - the Dartmoor Pixies are a good contact point, featuring Jason Rice in their line-up, and the Dartmoor Folk Festival includes workshops and a competition. Aside from that, most north country clogging is found in folk circles, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn Lancashire and north east clogging styles: find your local folk development agency via the Folk Arts England website, and they should be able to put you in contact with a teacher.

 

 

Events

 

Stepdance Day 2008

 

This year's Stepdance Day is again at the Swan, Worlingworth, Framlingham, Suffolk on Sunday 3rd August 2008. It will feature the 9th annual Steve Monk Memorial Stepdance Competition and the 1st Font Whatling Traditional Stepdance Competition. The event kicks off with a stepdance workshop at 12.30, followed by a music, song and dance session until the Steve Monk Competition at 2.30 (allcomers welcome) followed by the Font Whatling Competition (hard-soled shoes, no taps or blakeys). Steve Monk lived near Framlingham, and was a great character who influenced many people to 'have a go' at joining in with music and dance, and the competition was set up by some of his friends to keep this spirit alive. This year we have introduced the Font Whatling competition in memory of the Swan's resident musician and stepper (1919-1998) who was for a number of years also a member of the Old Hat Concert Party and became well known at folk festivals around the country. The aim is to keep the older style of dancing with hard-soled shoes going. Dancers are welcome to enter both competitions. Free entry, real ale, food, raffle and collection in aid of the forthcoming East Anglian stepdance DVD.

 

Stepdance Day 2007

 

This took place on a blazing hot day, (hard to believe of this summer!) but the marquee and mature trees in the garden of the Swan at Worlingworth provided enough shade for the two hundred or so people who attended the 8th Annual Steve Monk Memorial Stepdance Competition.
 

Simon Ritchie ran an informal and informative workshop over lunchtime, and eighteen people entered the competition in the afternoon. Steve Monk, who died age 48 in April 2000, was a great entertainer with a mischievous sense of fun. He introduced Simon Ritchie to traditional music, and Simon continues Steve’s light-hearted approach in this event. Joining Simon as judges this year were Percy West (last year’s winner) and Marilyn Monk.


Overall winner on points was Pam Buckley from Wisbech, with local boys Lenny Whiting and Billy Heffer as runners up, and a new prize was awarded by Gloria and Trevor Buckley to the best newcomer: Leo Baker from Tiptree.


Many thanks to Maxine at the Swan for making us so welcome, and to Percy West for providing step dance boards for everyone.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Photos:

 

Top row, left to right: Doreen O'Connor, Worlingworth Swan, Cyril Barber, Worlingworth (yes, it really is in the middle of nowhere!)

Middle row, left to right: workshop, the Marquee, workshop

Bottom row: Lenny Whiting, Marilyn Monk presents Pam Buckley with the overall winner's award, Gloria Buckley presents Leo Baker with the Best Newcomer award, Leo in action

 

 

Stepdance Workshop and Competition 2006

 

Blazing hot weather on a Sunday in July 2006 didn’t put off the large number of people who took part in a stepdancing workshop and competition and got even hotter! Fortunately, the main hall at the Riverside Centre in Stratford St. Andrew near the Suffolk coast was nice and cool for the workshop led by Simon Ritchie from Thaxted, Pam Buckley from Wisbech and Tom Orchard, special guest from Devon.
 

Workshop goers were taught a variety of steps and had the treat of demonstrations by the tutors and several other local stepdancers including Cyril Barber, Percy West and Lenny Whiting.

 

Everyone then moved outside for the stepdance competition, which saw a record number of twenty-one participants enter, with ages from ten to eighty-three, and many new-comers. After much debate and recounting of scores, the winner was announced as Percy West from Palgrave near Diss.
 

Many thanks are due to Steve and Jayne Delarre who set up the original event, Dick and Angela Plant at the Riverside Centre and Suffolk Coastal District Council, and to all the people who took part in the workshop and competition - keep it up!

Photos (left to right):

 

Morning workshop, with Tom Orchard teaching.

Lenny Whiting in the competition.

Percy West receiving his prize from one of the judges, Simon Ritchie.

Cyril Barber, winner of the lifetime achievement award!

 

 

 

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