The English Folk Dance and Song Society publishes a highly regarded members’ newsletter, English Dance & Song (EDS).
EDS is the oldest folk music and dance magazine in the world. It is essential reading for anyone with a passion for folk arts. First published in 1936, EDS magazine has always prided itself on providing information, debate and inspiration.
The magazine appeals to folk music and dance enthusiasts of all ages, and covers the professional side of the folk scene as well as grassroots participation. Packed with articles, interviews, reviews and information, it is dedicated to unearthing the most exciting stories about traditional folk music and dance, past and present, to inform our present-day interpretations and sustain them into the future.
EDS is published three times a year (at the start of April, August and December), and is sent to all full members.
All profits from membership support the charitable activities of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
To buy a back copy of EDS please contact [email protected].
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Sample articles
April 2024: The rise of Queer Ceilidhs
Vibrant folk dancing has exploded onto the gay scene, reports Membership Co-ordinator Tennessee Woodiel
April 2024: The thrill of lower-voice choirs
Roger Nicholls on the energetic rise and slow decline of the male-voice choir, and hopes for a resurgent future; and singer and choir leader Dom Stichbury continues the story
December 2023: Dances from EDS, 1921–1989
John Sweeney reports on a mammoth project
December 2023: Youth Voice, Chapman Shum
Regan Shum tells the inspirational story of his son Chapman’s journey into folk music
December 2023: Playing for early dances
Janet Maile, founder of the Authentic Playford project, encourages you to explore Playford dances – and offers advice on how to tackle playing the music
August 2023: New ideas for dancing
Reports on projects which have been supported by our mini grants
August 2023: Fostering a Living Tradition
Jen Cox (Chair of Open Morris) reviews a Professional Development Day presented by our Folk Education Network together with Wren Music
August 2023: Henry’s folk journey
Meet Henry Walker, who is profoundly autistic and has been a member of the London Youth Folk Ensemble for almost five years
April 2023: Conference report
Tiffany Hore reports on the 2022 conference of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library: Vaughan Williams and Folk Song
April 2023: Michael Wilson-Jones, 1944–2023
Mike Wilson-Jones – dancer, teacher, choreographer and communicator – has died at the age of 78
April 2023: Future Makers
Elye Cuthbertson, a recent member of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, tells us how he took folk music to the heart of the Royal Albert Hall’s competition
Winter 2022: Expanding our Membership
Our plans to extend Youth membership, and to introduce a new Starter category
Winter 2022: More free resources for all
New practical ways to use the folk arts in teaching and learning – in all sorts of community settings as well as in formal education
Winter 2022: Shooting Roots
An inclusive youth folk organisation run by young people, for young people
Winter 2022: Thinking about starting a new dance club?
Janet Maile, who set up Juice of Barley Country Dance Club in November 2021, shares some of the lessons she learned
Winter 2022: Exploring a new dance leadership qualification
We want your feedback on a possible new qualification
Autumn 2022: We need your news!
EDS is changing. We intend to include more information about your activities and the activities you attend. And we can only do this with your help. Put very simply, we are asking you to tell us what you do.
Autumn 2022: Supporting the return to dancing in person
Reporting on our mini-grants to social folk dance organisers.
Autumn 2022: About our name...
Members’ responses to the proposal that the English Folk Dance and Song Society could change its name to Folk Arts England.
Summer 2022: Zooming into The Young Folk Club
Rowan Collinson, Danny Marshall and Elye Cuthbertson talk about how they are connecting online with more of their peers.
Summer 2022: Ralph Vaughan Williams’ epiphany
John Palmer, project director of From Pub to Pulpit, explains why the Devil doesn’t have all the best tunes.
Spring 2022: Enjoy social dance from around the world
Anne Leach, co-founder of Dance Around The World festival, discusses how getting together to social dance is such an enjoyable and enriching experience, especially in a post-lockdown world.
Spring 2022: Are you FolkSafe?
Whenever you lead or organise an event, whether you volunteer or are paid, you have a duty of care towards everyone who is involved. Effective safeguarding is vital and is a legal requirement at all levels – not just for large-scale businesses, organisations or groups, but for anyone who works with children or adults at risk, as Sam Fisher, Safeguarding Officer at Brass Bands England, explains.
Spring 2022: Finding your way through the licensing maze
When faced with an array of acronyms such as PPL, PRS and MCPS, plus layers of confusing rules, dance club organisers may be tempted to ignore the rules about playing recorded music at their events. John Sweeney guides us through the terms and red tape.
Winter 2021: Get into position for social dancing
Louise Siddons explains how she uses positional calling for Playford and contra dances – and that positional calling has the potential to make dancing more fun for everyone.
Winter 2021: A return to dancing in person
Cath Watkins reports on a recent Folk Education Network peer-support event for social folk dancers.
Winter 2021: Actions as well as attitude
Katy Spicer explains why equality, diversity and inclusion are at the very top of the Society’s agenda.
Winter 2021: A passion for folk
Leo Long on how being in the London Youth Folk Ensemble has developed his love of folk music and dance, and has also led to a role in a major film!
Winger 2021: Folk Music Journal and JSTOR
Members of the English Folk Dance and Song Society can access past editions of Folk Music Journal, and its predecessors, on JSTOR. Mike Heaney explains how...
Winter 2021: Young people given a Passport to Music
An inclusive music project in South Derbyshire.
Autumn 2021: Gender-free calling: why does it matter?
Lisa Heywood discusses the importance of gender-free calling and offers some practical tips on how to get started.
Autumn 2021: What’s in a Name?
As the folk arts evolve and we look to the future, is it time for our name to evolve too?
Summer 2021: Dancing with children online
Folk educator Rachel Cole-Wilkin tells us how she’s adapted her children’s dance workshops to enable participation on Zoom.
Summer 2021: Movement for positive change gathers momentum
The folk scene, rightfully, is celebrated for its friendliness and inclusivity, but as a community, we’re discovering that we can all do more to work towards gender equality. Sarah Jones discusses a movement that’s working towards a safer, more inclusive folk scene.
Spring 2021: Educators celebrate 10 years of knowledge sharing
Kerry Fletcher, Folk Education Network Coordinator, celebrates a decade of activities for folk educators.
Winter 2020: Conference report 2020
How moving the triennial VWML Tunes Conference online during the pandemic provided its own unique challenges and unexpected rewards.
Autumn 2020: Learning in a virtual environment
How moving music learning online has enabled activities to continue during the pandemic.
Autumn 2020: Time’s up for ‘blacking up’
The Joint Morris Organisations (JMO) – The Morris Federation, Morris Ring and Open Morris – issued an important statement on 3 July about eliminating the use of full face black makeup. This must be welcomed by all of us who want to engage all people, of all backgrounds, in the folk arts.
Autumn 2020: Keep Calm and Carry on Dancing
Caller Rhodri Davies discusses how social dancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has become possible thanks to online innovations.
EDS was not published in Summer 2020, due to the pandemic.
Spring 2020: Stepping On: a meeting of minds and feet
In November 2019, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library hosted a conference on step dancing in its many and varied forms. Julie Williams, clog and step dancer and a member of the Instep Research Team, gives her account of the event.
Winter 2019: Supporting English folk dance
Laura Connolly, EFDSS’ Dance Development Manager, gives an update on our Dance Development programme’s achievements over the last few years, and looks forward to the future.
Winter 2019: Pageant fever!
Angela Bartie, Mark Freeman and Paul Readman tell the story of historical pageants – vivid and spectacular, but now largely forgotten.
Autumn 2019: Building on the success of Inclusive Folk
Education Manager Cassie Tait on a pilot project for disabled young people
Autumn 2019: Dancing England moves on
It’s 40 years since the first Dancing England took place. Phil Heaton looks back at its origins – and ahead to its future.
Summer 2019: This time it's social!
Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe discusses the new social dancing study guide she has produced for the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.
Summer 2019: Song searching just got easier
Laura Smyth, EFDSS’ Library and Archives Director, presents the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library’s latest resource: The Folk Song Subject Index.
Summer 2019: Clogs are Cool!
Our participation in BBC Arts’ #DancePassion 2019 event.
Spring 2019: What are the ingredients for a great youth ceilidh?
We have been running youth ceilidhs at Cecil Sharp House since 2016. Youth Forum member Lauren Ward discusses what she’s learnt from the experience.
Spring 2019: Food for Thought: Folk Club survey of young people
In November 2018, EFDSS undertook a survey of young performers under the age of 30, prompted by concerns from the Folk 21 folk club network that younger musicians are less interested in folk clubs.
Spring 2019: Five Minutes with Doc Rowe and Anna FC Smith
We catch up with Doc and Anna to find out about the Lore and the Living Archive exhibition.
Winter 2018: Musicians in Museums
Musicians in Museums, a new three-year project as part of our Artists’ Development programme for the English folk arts
Winter 2018: Folk's Family Tree
Natalya Catton Wilson talks to folk dancer and educator Kerry Fletcher about her family’s love of folk; her own love of folk music, song and particularly dance; and what she loves about educating people on our rich culture.
Autumn 2018: Choir raises its voice in celebration
Singing the praises of Cecil Sharp House Choir as it marks its first decade.
Summer 2018: Steps for Success
Rachel Elliott, EFDSS’ Education Director, and Laura Connolly, Dance Development Manager, report on EFDSS’ national conference, Steps for Success.
Summer 2018: Traditional Song Forum
Martin Graebe celebrates 20 years of the Traditional Song Forum.
Summer 2018: Ron Smedley at 90
An appreciation by Malcolm Taylor, former long-time Director of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
Spring 2018: FOLK'S FUTURE STARS
As recruitment begins for the third cohort of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, Sarah Jones, Programme Manager for the Ensemble, reflects on the journey so far.
Winter 2017: Tuning into the Tradition
A night that puts purely traditional song at its core: Trad Nights at Cecil Sharp House.
Winter 2017@ Hunting for a treasured painting
We’re on the hunt to see if anyone knows where the original of this Playford picture might be, if it still exists.
Autumn 2017: Supporting our network of folk educators
Kerry Fletcher discusses the activities of our Folk Educators Group.
Autumn 2017: Delve digitally into the Carpenter Collection
Elaine Bradtke, of the James Madison Carpenter Collection Project team, and Laura Smyth, Library and Archives Director of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, discuss the latest exciting addition to the digital archive
Summer 2017: Dancing with respect
Lisa Heywood discusses the importance of respectful behaviour during folk dancing.
Summer 2017: Folk song and the community choir
Sandra Kerr discusses the joy of folk singing as part of a choir.
Spring 2017: Folk of the Future
A group designed to develop our next generation of folk instrumentalists.
Spring 2017: Swords and Stars: Rapper Dance for Primary Schools
Gold Badge holder Phil Heaton reviews this teaching resource, part of EFDSS’ Resource Bank.
Winter 2016: Facing up to a dancing debate
In the light of public debate over the rights and wrongs of blackface morris, EFDSS’ Chief Executive and Artistic Director Katy Spicer looks at the history of ‘blacking-up’ and its current status.
Winter 2016: Inclusive conference inspires ideas
Rachel Elliott, Education Director, discusses how our first Inclusive Folk conference has set the tone for future activities with disabled participants.
Spring 2016: Our club in our pub
In the first in our new series of features about how important your local pub is to your folk club (and vice versa), Richard Catton reports on the Black Swan in York
