Burrell, Jack

Clog dancer, teacher and entertainer, perhaps from South Shields, Co. Durham..

Said to have been taught by Dickie Farrell.   Taught John Surtees to dance, charging 2/- (now 10p) a lesson, this being before WW1, teaching him steps in waltz, hornpipe and schottische time.  Also taught Billy Findlay.

He competed in the Northumberland and Durham Championship held at Gateshead in 1908, being placed 6th.

Jack had  a son and a daughter who both danced and who performed with him in local music halls. Their act was called the Three Burrells.  They later moved to the USA.

Our knowledge of Jack Burrell and his stepping style is derived from interviews with John Surtees on 14/9/1980 and 2/5/1982 and Wheaty Farrell on 11/10/1980 together with an undated cutting from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and  the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 4/7/1908