Robinson, Joseph (Young Jos)

Clog, step and social dance teacher from Windermere, England. Born 1887.  Son of Stainton Robinson. Known as “Young Jos” he carried on his father’s and grandfather’s (Old Jos Robinson) profession as a part-time dance teacher. Young Jos died in 1926 aged 39.

Part-time dancing master, an occupation which he combined with working as a taxi driver. He took over from his father when he died in 1902.  In addition to dances he also taught the etiquette of the ballroom.  He is believed to have taught in Rusland, Lakeside, Cartmel, Hawkshead, Haverthwaite, Grange-over-Sands, Ulverston, Lowick Bridge, Spark Bridge, Broughton, Whitehaven, Sikecroft,  Askham, Bardsea, Cartmel, Hutton Roof and Lindal.

He taught one night a week for a ten week term.  The charge for a term was 10/6 (55p). At the end of the term of classes there would be a finishing ball often in fancy dress.  The first part from 7.30-9.30 was for the younger children up to the ages of 12 or 13.  After that there was a ball for the older children without any exhibition dancing.  There was also a main ball at the end of the season.  Firstly would be the Juvenile Ball which was really a performance ending at about 10.30pm with the Garland Dance.  The adults’ Ball took place immediately aftrewards.

He taught the following dances:

Barn Dance
Boston Two Step
Butterfly Dance
Caledonians
Circassian Circle
Dancing Through the HoopEight Hand Reel
Garland Dance
Highland Fling
Highland Schottische
Hoop Dance
Irish Jig
Horse to Newmarket
Lancers
Military Two Step
Napoleon’s Grand March
Nigger Dance
Polka Mazourka
Quadrilles
Sailors’ Hornpipe
Schottische
Sir Roger de Coverley
Six Reel
Spanish Castanet Dance
Skipping Rope Dance
Skirt Dance
Schottische
Sword Dance
Tambourine Dance
Three Hand Reel
Varsoviana
Veleta
Waltz
Waltz Cotillon

He is known to have taught the following:

Norman Robinson (nephew)

He also taught step and clog dancing,  These were billed as the Lancashire Hornpipe (in ordinary shoes) or as the Lancashire Clog Dance if done in clogs.

Information derived from an interview by Tom Flett with Mrs Gertrude Keith8 January 1960, with Mrs Grace Robinson in August 1961 and with Norman Robinson on 5, 7 & 8 January 1960.

See also:

Clark, Mrs F., Haverthwaite, North Lancashire, 25 August 1962 correspondence and interview