CMP Review 2024-11-05

November 5, 2024

Near the end of Part V of Home Education, Charlotte Mason writes, “It is not possible to do more than mention two more important subjects—the Handicrafts and Drills—which should form a regular part of a child’s daily life. For physical training nothing is so good as Ling’s Swedish Drill… Dancing, and the various musical drills, lend themselves to grace of movement, and give more pleasure, if less scientific training, to the little people.”

While Mason could afford only a “mention” about dancing in her first volume, the PNEU was under no such constraint. One writer who went well beyond Mason’s “mention” was Juliet Williams, author of an important Parents’ Review article entitled “The Teaching of Drawing.” In 1914, Miss Williams conducted an in-depth study of dancing — the dancing which Miss Mason had in mind, the dancing which would give “grace of movement” and “pleasure” to “the little people.”

When I began reading Williams’s pair of articles, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. But what I found went well beyond the range of my experience. Sure, I thought I would read about rhythm and movement. But nothing could have prepared me for the flowers, the bells, and the beauty of English country dancing.

Today we present the second of two articles on country dancing by Juliet Williams. Our edition includes notes and annotations by Heidi Buschbach, with links so you can immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of this unique art form. I have nothing against Swedish Drill. But take a moment to explore Morris dancing, and you’ll see why even Miss Mason said it would give little people “more pleasure.” Find the article here.

@artmiddlekauff