Pat Tracey had begun teaching clog dance classes at Cecil Sharp House in October 1959, having written an article about clog dancing in English Dance and Song which was published in April of that year. She had appeared as a solo dancer at several EFDSS events that yaer, culminating in November 1959 with an appearance the EFDSS Birmingham Festival of Folk Dance and Song. It was thus entirely logical that she should appear at the Society’s annual Royal Albert Hall festival the following year.
When Pat performed at the Albert Hall in 1960, Princess Margaret and Pat’s mother were in attendance. Her musician was EFDSS staff member Peter Kennedy (son of Director Douglas Kennedy).
In 1964, her involvement was less usual. Ron Smedley, for the EFDSS, as part of the show, had devised a light-hearted pastiche entitled the “Camden Town Sound”, in which Pat, together with two of her pupils appeared ans dancing policemen. The whole show was filmed by the BBC.
Strangely, for such a well-known dancer, she made no further appearances at the festivel before its demise in 1984.
Albert Hall Festival Programme, 1960 Extracts
Extracts from the EFDSS Festival programme, showing Pat Tracey's first performance at the event.
Times 16 January 1960
The Times' review of the 1960 EFDSS Royal Albert Hall Festival
Provisional Runnng Order for 1964 Festival.
Reveals the extent to which the programme changed during its development, showing items which were, in due course, omitted.
EFDSS Letter to Pat Tracey 17 February 1964
Details of the costumes to be worn, uncluding the difficulty in obtaining the correct size!
Albert Hall Festival Programme, 1964 Extracts
Extracts from the EFDSS Festival programme, showing Pat Tracey's and her pupils' involvement in the 1964 event. The item the performed is called the "Working Man's Step Dance".
Film of Pat Tracey's Dancing Policemen Routine, 1964
In 1964 as part of the EFDSS Albert Hall Festival, Pat Tracey danced, with three of her pupils dressed as policemen.