The extended Robinson family were teachers of step and clog dancing (and social dance as well) for almost a hundred and fifty years, perhaps more.
The first dancer we have notice of was Joseph William Robinson, known in the area as “Old Jos” who was born in 1838. He and his descendants worked at least for some of the time as dancing masters, teaching a variety of clog and step dances (the step dances involved the same choreographic material as the clog dances but were performed in shoes), fancy dances and popular social dances. Their style and steps were discovered by Tom and Joan Flett in the early 1960s. By the late 1970s they had coined the word “Lakeland” to describe their style, although some dancers preferred to call it the “Westmorland style”. Modern research has turned up other unrelated dancers in the area whoc dance rather differently and so we prefer to consider their steps as a family rather than style of performance.
Their steps are characterised by quite a wide turn out of the feet, more or less straight shuffles and an abundance of crunch (ie toe/heel/toe/heel) movements. However perhaps the most obvious feature is that their steps are, almost entirely, performed only off the left foot, without any repeat on the right. In competition clog dancing steps are universally danced off both feet. Doe the Robinson style represent an older, more non-competitive choreography. We can only guess.
The results of the Fletts’ collecting have been made available in Flett, J.F. & T.M., Traditional Step Dancing in Lakeland, London, RFDSS (1979) and their manuscript collection is available via the search button at the top of this page.
Joseph William "Old Jos" Robinson
Joseph William (Old Jos) Robinson (1838 - 1908 ). Believed to have begun teaching dance when the bobbin mill in which he worked burned down in the 1880s. He also worked as a cab driver and hired out horse drawn vehicles. His children and grandchildren continued in his footsteps.
Stainton Battersby Robinson
Born in 1863, the eldest son of Joseph William "Old Jos" Robinson. He also taught dancing on a pert-time basis, combining this with running two hotels on Lake Windermere. He adopted the same teaching methods and to a great extent apparently the same material as his father.
Joseph WilliamRobinson
Born in 1877, the son of Joseph William "Old Jos" Robinson. Known to have taught at least for a short while, he mainly worked as a carter. However he is known to have taken part in at least one clog dancing competition.
Alfred Threlfall Robinson
Born in 1882, the youngest son of Joseph William "Old Jos" Robinson.In addition to teaching, Alf, as he was known, also apparently performed as a stage clog dancer under the name the "Cock of the North". He continued to teach until about 1930.
Joseph "Young Jos" Robinson
Born in 1887, the son of Stainton Robinson. Usually known locally as "Young Jos" to distinguish him from his grandfather. Worked as a taxi driver but after his father's death he took on his business of running dancing classes. He stopped teaching due to lack a demand in the easrly 1920s.
Norman Robinson
Born in c1914, the nephew of Joseph "Young Jos" Robinson from whom he learned to dance. Usually known locally as "Young Jos" to distinguish him from his grandfather. He began teaching clog dance at evening classes in the 1960s and was subsequently discovered by the Folk revival. One of Tom Flett's main contacts in North Lancashire and Westmorland.