Dartmoor Step Dancing Project wins National Lottery support

FOLK music charity Traditional Arts Support in the Community (TASC) has received £24,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to carry out research into the traditional step dancing of Dartmoor.

The charity has been devising and delivering projects since 1994 but this is its first partnership outside Wales.

Director Philip Freeman, who also founded the Welsh Folk Music Development organisation TRAC-CYMRU, said, “We’re very excited about this project and see it as a huge privilege to make it happen.”

TASC will be working closely with Dartmoor Folk Festival, which hosts the Annual Dartmoor Step Dancing Championships, to look at the steps, stories and music that make up the tradition, and the history behind it.

The money will be used to buy recording equipment, employ someone to collect material and train volunteers, hold classes in the community in the months running up to the festival, and provide a new website where everyone can access the material collected.

By means of interviews, photographs and recordings, a team of volunteers will unearth the background to the area’s rich tradition, as well as filling in the gaps of what is already known.

Alongside the research there will be opportunities to see and learn about step dancing at different venues in various locations across Dartmoor.

Demonstrations, introductory classes and taster sessions for all groups will take place across the region.

“This is fantastic news” said Dartmoor Folk Festival committee member Mark Bazeley, who is also a musician in the Dartmoor Pixie Band.

He added: “We’re really looking forward to finding out as much as we can and hope as many people as possible will get involved.”

Step dancing has seen a strong revival in recent years, and many people are coming forward with their recollections. This will be a chance for the unique story of Dartmoor to be told, and shared, for future generations to enjoy.

A Project Officer will shortly be appointed to co-ordinate this work, and anyone interested in applying can obtain further information via the Festival Office: enquiries.dartmoorfolk@gmail.com .
The 40th anniversary Dartmoor Folk Festival will take place at South Zeal, near Okehampton, on August 11, 12 and 13.

Further details can be seen on the website: www.dartmoorfolkfestival.org.uk

Images by Alan Quick of the finals of the Dartmoor Step Dancing competitions, which take place on top of a wagon at the annual Dartmoor Folk Festival each year.