Welcome to the New Year, where we had hoped to be mostly free of covid by now. But it was not to be. Some teams have stopped practices again, some events are being cancelled again, it’s all very deja vu.  So do come along to one – or all – of our online events, we would love to see you.

Online FedTalks & Workshops

Join us at a free online event, live over Zoom, optional donations.

January 2022

• Talk – “Traditional Treasures” – Gill & Barry Goodman – Sat 22nd Jan 17:00-18:30. The magic, mystery and madness of English traditional customs in story, songs and images, including: Olney Pancake Race, Tavistock Goosey Fair, Helston Flora Day, Whitby Penny Hedge, Haxey Hood Game, House & Apple Tree Wassailing. Follows on from their previous talk “Good Morning, Lords and Ladies”.

• Workshop – Fieldtown Jig – ‘Ladies’ Pleasure’ – Owain Boorman – Sun 30th Jan 11:00-12:30.  This follows on from Owain’s instructional on the Nutting Girl jig in the style of Fieldtown. Suitable for dancers who know how to double step, and those who attended our beginners Cotswold workshop last year.

February 2022

• 

  Talk – “Custom and creativity: the chicken and egg of folk performance histories” – Peter Harrop – Sat 5th Feb 17:00-18:30.  This draws on Peter’s editorial and introductory contributions to The Routledge Companion to English Folk Performance published last year (2021). He will use examples of morris dancing, mumming and sword dancing.

The latest and correct list is at: www.morrisfed.org.uk/events/.  More online events are coming in February & March.  

How to access an online event: Register for an event, and a couple of days before we’ll email you a Zoom link to access it.  We are also recording most of our events, which will appear on the MF YouTube channel when they have been processed.

See: MF Events

Events from other organisations

• EFDSS Library Lectures (£5 each): including one on morris dancing: ‘All together in the dance’ – Matt Simons – Wed 20th Apr 19:30-21:00 – Alec Hunter (1899-1958), artist, textile designer and Morris dancer. Raised on Arts and Crafts precepts, he perceived Morris dancing as a highly developed form of English ‘social art’, an apt panacea for an age of disenchantment and division.
• EFDSS Youth-friendly Folk: Folk Education Development Day – Sat 26th Feb 11:00-17:30 in London – How do we involve a more diverse range of young people in folk – in and out of school – in terms of ethnic diversity, gender equality, disability, and challenging circumstances?
• EFDSS What’s On: https://www.efdss.org/whats-on
• The Folk Forecast – weekly what’s on summary

In the media

• Lucy Worsley’s Christmas Carol Odyssey (BBC4) Mon 13th 21:00 – featuring Hook Eagle Morris (view until 21st Jan): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000c5y4

Dancing Diary dates

2022

• Saturday 9th April 2022 in Liverpool – JMO National Day of Dance hosted by the Morris Ring in the North West.  For all members of the Morris Ring, Morris Federation and Open Morris. Bookings are open: MF teams please contact us using our contact form and selecting the drop down for ‘Events’.  PS If any individuals are available to help Marshall for a half/whole day, then please let us know and we’ll pass on your details.
• Saturday 24th September 2022 in Darlington – the MF Day of Dance and AGM hosted by Black Diamond Mixed Cotswold Morris.  Save the date for now.

2023

• Saturday 23rd September 2023 in Shropshire – the MF Day of Dance and AGM hosted by Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish.  Save the date for now.

Hope to see you at an event soon.

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