The English Dancing-Master
Quick Summary
The English Dancing-Master was a popular collection of English country dances and tunes compiled by John Playford. First published in 1650 (dated 1651), it became a principal source for knowledge of English country dance steps and melodies. The book was frequently expanded, with its 18th and final edition in 1728 containing around 700 dances.1
Despite Puritanical views that stigmatized dance, Playford's work was widely embraced. It presented dances in straightforward language, accessible to anyone regardless of social class, promoting dancing as a playful activity rather than a strict etiquette exercise. The collection included a variety of forms and patterns, with dances named after places, people, and even foreign influences. Many of these dances were revived in the 20th century.21
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- country dance
…and courtly: Italian (15th–16th century), English (16th–19th century), and French (18th century). The chief English source is John Playford’s The English Dancing Master of 1650, continued in additional volumes until 1728 and critically revised in 1957 by M.J. Dean-Smith.
Read More…and courtly: Italian (15th–16th century), English (16th–19th century), and French (18th century). The chief English source is John Playford’s The English Dancing Master of 1650, continued in additional volumes until 1728 and critically revised in 1957 by M.J. Dean-Smith.
Read More 
folk danceJohn Playford and the preservation of dance…dances through seven editions of The English Dancing Master. The first was published in 1651. His work was carried on after his death by his son Henry and later by John Young through the 18th and final edition in 1728; after the first edition the work bore the abridged title…
Read More…dances through seven editions of The English Dancing Master. The first was published in 1651. His work was carried on after his death by his son Henry and later by John Young through the 18th and final edition in 1728; after the first edition the work bore the abridged title…
Read More
Western danceEnglish social dance…not prevent the appearance of The English Dancing Master (issued 1650; dated 1651), by the bookseller and publisher John Playford (1623–c. 1686). This was a collection of English traditional dances and tunes. It had 18 editions in 80 years, each one adding to the repertoire. Its 900 choral dances of…
Read More…not prevent the appearance of The English Dancing Master (issued 1650; dated 1651), by the bookseller and publisher John Playford (1623–c. 1686). This was a collection of English traditional dances and tunes. It had 18 editions in 80 years, each one adding to the repertoire. Its 900 choral dances of…
Read More
