Worsall Folk Dance Group
Contact Information for Worsall Folk Dance Group
Links for Worsall Folk Dance Group
Event Calendar
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Come and Enjoy English Folk Dancing
 Worsall Folk Dance Group meets on Tuesday evenings from 7.15 pm to 9.15 pm in the months from September to June.
Tuesday Classes will be held in YARM in either the Social Centre in Bentley Wynd or in the Catholic Church Hall in the High Street. (See Event Calendar for precise details.)
Attendance at classes is usually between 20 and 30 people. These weekly classes are led by some of the more experienced group members who take it in turn to run the dancing for an evening. This means that dancers experience a wide variety of dances and dance styles. Dances range from the court dances of the 15th century to dances composed in 21st century and mostly take the form of circles, squares, or longways sets. Most dances are English in origin, but some come from USA and other countries where the English dance tradition has taken root.
Membership is open to adults of all ages. Beginners with no previous English Folk Dance experience are welcome and it is not necessary to come with a partner. In fact members are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening. This means that the more experienced dancers pass on their technique and knowledge to those less experienced.
For further details contact Sue or Martin Sutton on 01642 785311
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Saturday Folk Dances
 | In addition to Tuesday class nights, we hold several Saturday night folk dances between September and March when, besides our own members, we see people from other folk dance clubs in the Teesside area and often dancers from as far away as the Leyburn, Whitby, York, Harrogate and Tyne and Wear valleys. We invite different callers and bands for each dance. Dances start at 7.30 pm and there is an interval at about 9.00 pm for supper and tea/coffee. This is followed by more dancing until 11.00 pm.
No tickets are sold in advance. People pay at the door. As we operate a “pooled supper” system, we ask that people bring enough supper for themselves and their party.
Please see our Events Diary for details of forthcoming dances and price of admission.
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Club History
 | The Worsall Folk Dance Group was first formed in the early 1930s to give people of the area a social asset and to learn and maintain the traditions of English Country Dancing. The Second World War brought about the demise of the group and it was not reformed until 1958. The revival was by a group of ladies who met in the Worsall Village Hall on Tuesday evenings between September and June. In 1961, men were encouraged to join the group. As the standard of the dancing improved, demonstrations were given to the public. Also barn dances were held to encourage more people to join in this enjoyable pastime.
From 1958, under the dynamic leadership of the late Mrs. Doris Honeyman, the standard of dancing continually improved. The group successfully entered teams in the annual competitive dance festivals at Darlington and Whitby and many trophies were won over the years. A demonstration team regularly gave displays to women’s institutes, local clubs and groups for disabled and elderly people. They also helped to run barn dances for schools, churches and other charitable organisations. The group also provided demonstrations to the public during National Folk Day that was sponsored by the EFDSS with displays taking place at locations such as Stokesley, Great Ayton, Northallerton, Yarm and Coulby Newham. (The picture above shows the dancers performing at Stokesley in June 2001.)
Whilst most of the group’s activities took place in the local area and involved local people, some activities had an international aspect. In 1980, a team was placed third in its class at Cleveland Intertie Festival. The group participated in the 18th Bitburg International Festival in Germany in 1982, and gave demonstrations in Vernouillet, France following its twinning with Yarm 1985. In recognition of her services to English Folk Dancing, Mrs Honeyman was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1992.
By the turn of the century, the participation in the annual competitive dance festivals at Darlington and Whitby was declining and Worsall Folk Dance Group’s teams were often dancing unopposed, which in turn led to decisions not to take part in future.
Sadly in 2001, Mrs Honeyman died. Whilst this was a great loss, it did not mean the demise of Worsall Folk Dance Group. The committee was highly motivated that group should continue and we were fortunate that a number of club members had learnt the skills of calling and were willing and able to lead Tuesday classes.
Inevitably the nature of the group has changed, but it continues to flourish today. The group still meets on Tuesday evenings between September and June and attendance is usually between 20 and 30 people. We continue to hold several Saturday night folk dances between September and March.
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