Morris, Sword, and Northern Soul: Grappling with 'Folk'.

As we understand more of the complex histories of morris and sword dancing, the singular designation 'folk' becomes problematic. The assertion, whether historical or contemporary, that one kind of dance is definitively 'folk' while another kind of dance is 'not folk' becomes increasingly difficult to sustain. (Non-folk) Northern Soul dancing is brought to the discussion to highlight the apparent arbitrariness of 'folk' as a twentieth-century designation. The article goes on to suggest that the label 'folk', while acknowledging its selective and retrospective application, need not apply in perpetuity. It may be possible to describe particular dances as having enjoyed a 'folk' period, or a 'folk' context, but there have also been lengthy 'pre-folk' periods for morris and sword, multiple examples of 'non-folk' performance, and an increasingly evident 'new-folk' or 'post-folk' era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]