The Halsway Playford Weekend is always a stimulating and enjoyable experience, and we are delighted to welcome back dancing master Andrew Swaine with musicians Purcell’s Polyphonic Party for the 2025 event.
A vigorous and fun weekend of dancing, the course is aimed at dancers – both experienced and new to Playford are welcome – who want to explore the music and dances published in the English Dancing Master.
An extremely brief history of Playford, in Andrew’s words: “John Playford was a publisher in the mid-17th century who published a lot of “country dances” which were being danced in the English Inns of Court at the time. It’s commonly believed that that they were initially dances for light relief based on what the common folk were doing, but dancing masters got involved and many of the dances are quite elaborate! They evolved considerably when Charles II came back from exile and country dancing became very popular throughout the nation and much of Western Europe, declining in the early 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century Cecil Sharp, reviving interest in all things traditionally English, reinterpreted and and taught these dances.”
Andrew likes to promotes a relatively lively and accessible style of Playford dancing, aiming to rediscover what made these dances fun in the first place. Expect a varied and joyful programme of workshops and social dancing, aimed at interpreting the dances for a modern audience with enthusiasm and enjoyment, whilst also setting the dances in historical context and referring back to the original sources.
There will be a Playford Assembly Ball on the Saturday evening – costume strongly encouraged!
Who is it for?
The course is aimed at those with some experience of dance, although no specific experience of the Playford dances is necessary. Andrew is used to working across all levels, meaning he is well placed to include and encourage more novice dancers, whilst also providing enjoyable challenges for more experienced dancers.
The Team
Andrew Swaine has been dancing since he was small. He’s been calling and teaching workshops since he was a student in the 1990s and is keen to share his love of dance. He has a well researched Playford portfolio and is an experienced caller for most genres of English country dancing, including ceilidh, American contra, Playford (early country dancing, starting with the publications of John Playford 1651 onwards) and modern country dances at all levels written since the revival in the early 20th century. As well as leading “Playford in the Pub” dances in his home town of Sheffield. Outside of calling Andrew is an accordion player, for morris dancing with Boggart’s Breakfast in Sheffield and Gog Magog Molly in Cambridge and in a Balfolk duo with clarinetist Jo Veal.
Purcell’s Polyphonic Party are a trio of musicians come together to combine their love of Purcell, Playford, Baroque and the Nordic Noir. Take one harpsichord, one viola d’amore, one nyckelharpa. Stir occasionally with bouzouki and accordion. Once mixed add one set of bagpipes, a light sprinkling of flute and allow to simmer gently together on stage for around 3 hours. Then enjoy some beautifully served up dance music.