Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance

Appalachia is one of the most misunderstood and mythologized regions of the United States. As John Campbell observed in 1921, it is a place “about which, perhaps, more things are known that are not true than any other part of the country. This is particularly true of the Appalachian dance traditions, which have often portrayed as survivals of an ancient Anglo-Celtic heritage brought to the region by the early pioneers. Since the time of the earliest settlers, however, the southern backcountry has been home to a diverse population – a “mixed multitude of all classes and complexions” – and the region, though relatively isolated, has always maintained contact with the outside world through trade, travel, and immigration. The traditional square dances and step dances of Appalachia reflect this diversity. Rather than being pure survivals of an ancient Anglo-Celtic heritage, locked away in isolation, these folk traditions are a blend of the European, African, and Native American dance traditions that also show the influence of the popular social dances of the nineteenth-century. This presentation, which will include historical images and videos as well as a demonstration of flatfoot dancing, will explore the roots of these Southern dances and challenge some of the common misconceptions and myths that have long been associated with these Appalachian traditions