I am currently working towards my Doctorate in Performing Arts. My thesis is entitled: Maypole Dancing as Microcosm: Performing Politics, Moralities and Identities in Seventeenth-Century England.

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Examining the seventeenth century in England, this study offers the first in depth analysis into maypole traditions’ (defined here as inclusive of the maypole object, maypole dance and all maypole ceremonies) place in early modern English culture. By exploring maypole traditions as a microcosm of wider society, new insights are being generated to improve our understanding of seventeenth century English people, beliefs, and folk traditions. 

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It has become clear that maypole traditions featured more prominently in early modern English life than has been credited in previous academic work. Through the application of ethnochoreological theories and methodologies, it can be seen that these historical maypole traditions reflected the social changes occurring in England at the time. Through the analysis of recorded disagreements and legal documents from the period it has become evident that maypoles acted as hubs for conflicts between opposing subcultures – which may account for maypole traditions being referred to, and used connotatively, in literature in disparate ways.

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Through the collation and analysis of primary sources including, but not limited to, books, broadside ballads, poems, and almanacks this study explores how shifting cultural and religious landscapes have impacted local identity and affected debates around morality. Exploration of maypole’s links to politics and the law has not been the focus of previous sustained studies and will expand our understanding of this aspect of English intangible heritage, dance, and the wider political landscape of the early modern period at both national and local levels. It is anticipated that this study will clarify; the roots of opposition to maypole traditions, what maypole traditions from the period consisted of, and why people fought to preserve them.

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As the first major study into maypole traditions in the early modern period the findings from this study will contribute to knowledge in the areas of; dance, ethnochoreology, history, folklore, and historical anthropology.