Adamson, William

Dancing master from Kingskettle, Fife.

He began teaching shortly after 1900, having followed his father, Alexander Adamson into this profession who in turn had learned his trade from Andrew Doag.  Alexander retired in 1927.

A full account of William’s activities has been published in the Newcastle Series: C. MetherellThe East Fife Clog Hornpipe, Newcastle: Newcastle Series, (1982).

William Adamson taught a number of solo clog or step dances:

East Fife Clog Hornpipe
Flowers of Edinburgh
Highland Fling
Highland Laddie
Irish Jig
Liverpool Hornpipe
Sailors’ Hornpipe
Seann Triubhas
Scotch Jig
Skirt Dance
Sword Dance

He also taught a number of social dances:

Blue Bonnets
Brown’s Reel/Duke of Perth
Circle Waltz
Corn Rigs
Cumberland Reel
Haymakers
Nut
Pas de Quatre
Petronella
Polka
Quadrille Country Dance
Royal Albert Country Dance
Triumph
Rory O’Mor
Strip the Willow

The above is derived from interviews by with William Adamson on  8/9/1956, 10/9/1956 and 12/9/1956 his original notes 8/9/1956-12/9/1956 are also available.