An Introduction to Maypole Dances
Maypoles are often considered to be quintessentially English, but maypoles actually exist in more than a dozen different countries around Europe, North, South and Central America. They go back hundreds of years although the earliest versions with ribbons didn’t appear regularly until the second half of the 19th century. The dances are performed in many different contexts, not always connected with May. So, whatever you do with a maypole you are linking into a vibrant multi-cultural living tradition.
Here are a few more reasons, and a couple of dances to try.
Enjoyment
The best reason we know for Maypole Dancing is that it is fun to do, great for all ages and abilities, and visually pleasing for those watching. People enjoy trying the dances and the teacher’s job becomes one of harnessing enthusiasm. Learning takes place automatically and teamwork becomes instinctive as the dancers realise that they have to work together to get results. While many people think Maypole is just for children, most adults love to have a go!
Three Dimensions
Because a Maypole is a three dimensional tool it takes learning into a different environment and children get a chance to think and learn away from the formal classroom environment. It is also one of the few forms of dance where the focus is not on the dancers but on the patterns and the ribbons and the dances can be adapted to suit the abilities and fitness of the group.
A Cross-Curricular Tool
There are various cross curricular links such as Science, Art & Design, Sport & PE and Music which can be explored alongside Maypole dancing. In many cases these will emerge naturally but more details can be found in The Maypole Manual.
Cultural Heritage
We start from the point of Maypoles being part of our cultural heritage but that this is shared. The Maypole is not unique to England and similar activities can be found around the globe. Even more common is the idea of seasonal celebrations so that once again the Maypole becomes the starting point rather than the end product.
A Visual Artform
Because the Maypole can be seen, it can easily become the focus of activities at summer fetes and the like, and including Maypole Dancing in these events then becomes a tradition. Better still, because it is so visible and relatively cheap compared to other pieces of equipment, raising funds for a new Maypole or to enhance the existing tradition becomes much easier for any school or group.
Sample Dance: The Chrysanthemum
A very simple dance with only one-quarter of the dancers moving at any one time. Works particularly well for a disparity of ages, uneven numbers, and differently abled dancers.
Suitable audio: West Country Polkas (8 x 32 bar Polkas)
Sample Dance: Twister
Dancers in turn change places with the dancer opposite them on the other side of the pole, creating two spiral plaits. Fun to dance and visually stunning.
Suitable audio: Jigs with a Twist (9 x 32 bar Jigs)
This resource (PDF, audio and website content) can be used and shared free of charge for non-commercial educational use only. Permission must be sought from Mike Ruff and EFDSS for any other use of this material.
The sample dances given here are taken from The Maypole Manual, by kind permission of the authors Mike Ruff and Jenny Read.
Sample audio tracks are taken from the accompanying CD, by kind permission of the band Quicksilver (Chris Haigh, fiddle / Mike Ruff, accordion and recorders / Bernard O’Neill, electric and acoustic bass / Graeme Taylor, guitar / Andy Dewar, drums).
More information and copies of this and other publications are available at mikeruffmusic.co.uk
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