Les asks
"Who was dancing "country dances" in 1900? "
How about dances in the 'servants hall' at Christmas, and other celebrations.
It amazes me that 100 years can sometimes seem like only a step away.
We started going to a barn dance club 25 years ago and one of the callers was Reg Holmes. When he was starting out he had been given some dances by another Cheshire caller who used to call for servants dances at the turn of the century. I occasionally call one of them - Peckforton Gap (the Peckforton Hills are part of the mid-Cheshire sandstone ridge). Dave Hunt calls a similar dance, under a different name. Sicillian circle formation, 1s gallop through the 2s and back, 2s through the 1s; a 'callers whim' figure; forward and back, move on.
Reg is now 94 and living in residential care, but still plays and sings at folk clubs and sessions.