This particular set is only known from the teaching of William Adamson a dancing master from Kingskettle, Fife.
The dance consisted of 10 steps although Mr Adamson could only remember nine. He taught the dance in highland dancing pumps which had heels made of several layers of leather added to them although when he performed he wore red clogs. The use of clogs for the dance is discussed in Metherell, C. “Clogs or Shoes? Footwear for the Fife Dances” Instep 12. 1984.
A full notation has been published as part of the Newcastle Series: C. Metherell, The East Fife Clog Hornpipe, Newcastle: Newcastle Series, (1992).
Also available are the original notes of Tom Flett’s meetings with William Adamson 8/9/1956-12/9/1956 and is fair copy notes, 8/9/1956, 10/9/1956 and 12/9/1956.
A description is published in Flett, J.F. & T.M., Traditional Step Dancing in Scotland, Edinburgh: Scottish Cultural Press. 1996, 151-156. 170-177.
Chris Metherell discusses the Clog Hornpipe historically and contextually with Mats Melin and shows how each step is danced. Filmed on an iPhone 6 at Felton, England, on 14 January 2019.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 01 – Two-bar Finish and tune.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 02 – Background.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 03 – First Step lead round.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 04 – Second Step.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 05 – Third Step.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 06 – Fourth Step.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 07 – How to finish a step, with or without a hop.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 08 – Fifth Step a.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 08 – Fifth Step b.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 09 – Sixth Step – swivel.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 10 – Seventh Step a – and discussion on repeat pattern.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 11 – Seventh Step b.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 12 – Eight Step.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 13 – Ninth Step a.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 14 – Ninth Step b.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 15 – Tenth Step a from Liverpool Hornpipe.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 16 – Tenth Step b from Liverpool Hornpipe.
East Fife Clog Hornpipe 17 – Contextual background.
Also available is an interpretation of the dance by Lesley Gowers filmed at the Reading Clog and Step Dance Festival 1993.
And a clip of Ian Dunmur of the Reading Step and Traditional Dance Team performing the dance in shoes at the Sidmouth Festival in 1981.