John Ramsay - Southern Folk Dance

John Ramsay - Southern Folk Dance

Southern Appalachian - general

This article, by longtime dancer, caller, and organizer John Ramsay, presents his views on what has been termed "set running," a style of dance that was named by folklorist Cecil Sharp when he came upon it in Harlan County, Kentucky, in 1917. The form is sometimes called the "Kentucky Running Set," though there is no evidence that the dancers from whom Sharp learned it used either term. The dance is related to the Big Circle dances that are common in southern Appalachian mountain communities. Taking set running as an early form, Ramsay looks at other branches that formed distinctive square dance styles.

John Ramsay

1987

USA, Kentucky