‘Many Useful Lessons’

Abstract

ABSTRACTCecil Sharp became the dominant figure in the movement to revive English folk dance in the early years of the twentieth century. This article explores some of Sharp's ideas and motivations using three distinct types of source material: published writing, film and inspection notebooks. These different types of evidence are investigated to give a rounded view of Sharp's project within the cultural climate of his day, particularly his idea of providing a ‘healthier’, educationally positive and racially rooted alternative to commercial popular music and its associated dance forms.