Dr Caroline Radcliffe will give an illustrated talk on conditions in the nineteenth century cotton mill and how an extraordinary dance form arose from the physically and mentally gruelling relationship between the worker and machinery of the Industrial Revolution.

Photograph of Dr Caroline Radcliffe

She will follow this with an optional practical dance workshop in which you can learn a few easy steps direct from the cotton mill.

Recreate the sounds and movements of Nineteenth Century Lancashire cotton machinery in this gently paced and easy one hour dance workshop for beginners. You will learn four steps and put these together to make a complete dance as performed by the contemporary mill workers.

These talk and dance workshop will take place at the Cadbury Research Library (Muirhead Tower) on Thursday 10 July at 12:00 noon. Come along to one, or both, of the sessions. These events are free of charge.

To find out more and book a place: email special-collections@bham.ac.uk or telephone +44(0)121 414 5839.