Here’s your latest update – in particular … get your entry in for the John Gasson jig competition at Sidmouth. And looking for a few more volunteers to run regional JMO days of dance in Sept/Oct 2023 (next year). Great to see so many teams happy to be out and about performing this summer
John Gasson Jig Competition – enter now
A message from Tracey Rose: The 34th John Gasson Jig Competition will be back in the Blackmore Dance Marquee at Sidmouth on Sunday 31st July 2022 at 3pm. Last year we had to cancel the competition due to lack of entries; this year I want to rebuild and make it an developmental and amazing competition. If you haven’t entered before, give it a go. There is a Best New Entrant award. The aim of the competition is to improve the standard of Jig dancing – the improvement entrants see in their Jig dancing when preparing helps their dancing and confidence so everyone wins.
Many of you will have grown up with the Jig Competition and are now over 40 – we have a Best Over 40 award. Some past entrants have said (after first entering in their teens and twenties) that they were waiting until they were over 40 before their entered again – this is the year for you to do it. There are some amazing over 40 dancers who I love watching, their experience comes through in the Jig and are a delight to watch.
There were dancers who were on the journey through the Jig competition before the pandemic– taking away the Judges’ comments and working on their Jigs – I am looking forward to you continuing on the journey, getting placed or winning.
Give me (Tracey Rose) a ring if you want to talk about entering – if you know you want to enter but don’t know what jig yet, send your form in and give me the information later. The Entry Form and the rules of the competition are at: https://johngassonjig.org.uk/entry/
The Judges, Sponsors and venue are in place – now I need the entrants. I believe that our wonderful Morris community will step up and enter the competition; I can’t wait to be back in that tent, with the supportive atmosphere that I love, watching Jigs and sharing our love of Morris. This is the make or break year.
Tracey Rose, 07885 832567, Traceyrose7@btinternet.com
Members – news & resources
On our ‘News’ pages https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/news/ …
Denise Allen writes in memory of her husband Clive Allen of Kennet Morris, Windsor Morris and Rockhopper Morris, and the recent celebration of his life: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/2022/05/30/obituary-clive-allen/
Morris Matters magazine – back issues for 2019
The back issues for Beth Neill’s ‘Morris Matters’ magazine for January 2019 (v38/1) and July 2019 (v38/2) are now available on our web site at: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/resources/morris-matters/ . If you would like to receive copies by post as they come out, an annual subscription is just £6 for two issues (£8 outside UK). Beth’s contact details are on that web page.
Talk – 40 Years of Morris: Memories & Reflections
Sat 9 July 11:00-12:30 at the Higgins in Bedford. Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History, and Chas Leslie, curator of the Innovation and Tradition: 40 years of Morris display, hear from ex-members of Redbornstoke Morris and Bedfordshire Lace Morris in a panel discussion. Followed by a Morris Dance Children’s Workshop for ages 8-12 at 14:00-15:30 led by Golden Hare Morris. See: https://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Exhibitions/40_Years_of_Morris/
See all our news at: MF News
Morris Teaching Resources
EFDSS have now made their “Morris Hey!” DVDs available online as part of their Resource Bank. Morris Hey! provides an introduction to morris dancing for young people, containing instructions for three Cotswold dances, and one each from North West, Border, and Molly. 
The resource (films, audio and website content) can be used and shared free of charge for non-commercial educational use. Morris Hey! was written by Mike Ruff and the Morris Hey Set, and filmed by Max Thomas featuring the dancing of Fool’s Gambit and music of Ollie King.
Other Dance Teaching Resources
EFDSS has range of learning resources including Clog, Rapper, Maypole, Morris Contemporary dance, Ceilidh, folk music, dance & song, see: https://www.efdss.org/learning/resources/resources-listing?topics=dance
In the media
- “Bampton morris dancing, Whit Monday”, also “Beasts, Hobby Horses and ‘the suspension of the normal’”, and other customs compiled by Tradfolk: https://tradfolk.co/category/customs/
JMO Regional Days of Dance 2023 – we need YOU!
We are still looking for a few more individuals & teams to get involved in organising the JMO Regional days of dance next year – in September / October 2023 in these areas, with the finale being in London to commemorate 20 years since the first JMO day of dance in Trafalgar Square. We would like at least one member from each organisation to be on the organising committee for each event.
- North East – Newcastle (organising committee has been established)
- North West – Chester
- Midlands – Derby
- South West – Bristol
- South East – Norwich (newly added)
- London – Trafalgar Square in last October 2023
If you, or your team, would be interested in getting involved with the running of these days, please email president@morrisfed.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
Events – in-person and online
Sept 2022
Saturday 24th Sept 2022 in Darlington – MF Day of Dance, AGM and Ceilidh hosted by Black Diamond Mixed Cotswold Morris. Bookings are open.
April 2023
Saturday 15th April 2023 in Exeter – JMO Day of Dance hosted by Beltane Border Morris on behalf of Open Morris. Save the date for now.
Sept 2023
- Saturday 23rd Sept 2023 in Shropshire – MF Day of Dance and AGM hosted by Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish. Save the date for now.
Sept-Oct 2023
- Regional JMO Days of Dance. Days of Dance to be held in the North West, Midlands/Derby, South West/Bristol, and North East areas, with a finale in London. To celebrate 20 years since the first JMO DoD in Trafalgar Square. Dates tbc.
Online
- Online events generally run from November to March; please contact us if you are interested in hosting a talk/workshop. Recordings of past online events are on our MF YouTube channel.
See all our events at: MF Events
Events from other organisations
March 2023
Anytime
- EFDSS What’s On: https://www.efdss.org/whats-on
- The Folk Forecast – a what’s on summary of folky events
- Tradfolk – news about folky things
If you wish to subscribe to Morris Federation News via email please fill out this form: Subscribe to Morris Federation News. Member contacts have a separate mailing list.
