Violet Alford (18 March 1881 – 16 February 1972) was an internationally recognised authority on folk dancing and its related music and folk customs. She believed that a common prehistoric root explained the similarities found across much of Europe.

Early life

Alford was born the third daughter of

Canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western can ...

Josiah George Alford of

Bristol Cathedral Bristol Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England. Founded in 1140 and consecrated in 1148, it was originally St Augustine's Abbey but after the Dissolu ...

. She had the typical upbringing of a Victorian society lady; her father taught her and her sisters music, and a governess was responsible for their other early education. After completing her studies at Clifton High School Violet was sent to a

finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

for girls in Switzerland.

Selected works

*''English Folk Dances'' (1925) *''The Traditional Dance'' (1935), in collaboration with Rodney Gallop *''Pyrenean Festivals'' (1937) *''The Singing of the Travels'' (1956) *''Sword Dance and Drama'' (1962) *''The Hobby Horse and Other Animal Masks'' (1978)

References

Citations

Bibliography

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alford, Violet 1881 births 1972 deaths People educated at Clifton High School, Bristol Folk dance Writers from Bristol Dance in the United Kingdom