England / Wales

English & Welsh Dance

The Celts were the first inhabitants of England. They had approximately 9 Celtic tribes. There are still Celtic groups living there today. One main tribe was the Britons. One of the most famous Celtic Queens Boudicea’s tribe was in England. Queen Boudicea was able to lead the tribes in resisting the Roman invasions for a period of time. When the Romans came in they put them into slavery or pushed them into Scotland and Wales. Then the invasion of the Anglo/Saxons (German Celts and Viking mix) took over. Then the Vikings invaded. The two groups eventually blended. So, the dances of these particular groups in England are a mix. The name England comes from the word Angle (Anglo). The English language came from German/Celtic.

The same dances spread through out Europe, through out the different eras. English Country dances go back to the 1400’s. English Country dances are a mix of European Court and peasant dances, brought to the Elizabethan court by Italian and various European dance masters. These dances were important to Queen Elizabeth the 1st as entertainment and exercise. She used to start her day with different dances as exercise. Country dancing spread throughout Europe and to America. It continued to be popular until the introduction of the Waltz, Polka and other duets or couple dances in the 19th Century. Choreographed dances started in the late 1600’s. In England and France the court dance masters would choreograph dances for special occasions. The English Morris dances are a Celtic German tradition along with the Sword dance, Horn dance and Hobby Horse. All possibly originated in Sweden.

Wales had 3 Celtic tribes. Their Celtic DNA was protected. There are still Celtic groups living there. They had ongoing battles with England. Wales had their particular dances, the religious clergy tried to destroy them. Playford managed to publish the Welsh dances in the mid 17th century. The St. Johns” Eve Festival in Cardiff every year attracts hundreds of folk dancers from all parts of Wales wearing traditional costume Most of the dances could be done as a solo (for fun, or performances, or competitions), as couples, or groups. I have found 5 English surnames in my family ancestry.