Question:
I find the term 'English peasants' to be somewhat patronising. Please can
you be more specific?
Answer:
I quite agree, Chris. My ancestors who come from rural Sussex were
always known as Agricultural Labourers, and were proud of it.
England doesn't have and never did have Peasants, although I don't know
about Wales, or the rest of Europe.
Asto the type of dances they performed, it would be worth while
obtaining a book 'Scan Tester - I never played to any posh dances' and
written/editied by Reg Hall. This won't give you any actual notations of
what dances were being performed in the dates you need, but would give
you details from, say 1860 or so onwards. But, it will give you ideas -
evidence shoulds that the English rural classes were doing the Polka,
Schottisches etc quite early on. Likewise, if you can get hold of a copy
of the 'Heathfield Memorials' - edited by P Lucas, he reproduces the
directions of dances which were noted down by a resident of Heathfield
(what shall I call him - an Artisan perhaps?) around 1800.
Submit Your
Own Answer!
