M&S Company Archive stages jazz dance demonstration in Kirkgate Market ahead of 1940s exhibition

Members of Swing Dance Leeds performed the Lindy Hop at Kirkgate Market to raise awareness of a 1940s themed event to be held this Saturday at the M&S Company Archive on the University of Leeds campus.

M&S has links with Leeds that can be traced back to its start to life as a penny bazaar at the city’s Kirkgate Market in 1884.

The M&S Company Archive, which has a collection of more than 70,000 historic item, was unveiled at the University of Leeds’ Michael Marks Building in March 2012.

This Saturday (November 17) the archive will be opening its doors to give visitors a chance to revisit the 1940s with dancing, forties fashion, talks, tea and cake.

The archive team will be looking back at M&S in the 1940s, from wartime utility fashion to how M&S employees rose to home front challenges.

There will be talks on M&S and their customers during the Second World War and a chance to view the special display ‘RAF100: M&S and the Royal Air Force in the Second World War WWII,’ which commemorates the RAF’s centenary year.

There will also be Lindy Hop demonstrations and classes for visitors to try the popular Swing-era dance.

Often described as a jazz dance, Lindy Hop became popular when American troops were stationed in the UK and across other Allied countries during the Second World War.

Katharine Carter, M&S Company Archivist, said: “We’re excited to bring back our popular 1940s event this November, following its success in 2013.

“The 1940s was a time where cultures merged, perceptions of fashion were changing and dance provided some much-needed light relief for the troops stationed here, as well as the families left behind. We look forward to welcoming would-be Lindy Hoppers and everyone with an interest in the 1940s.”

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