Here’s your latest update – in particular … two new digital publications (free to download), books to buy or borrow, videos to watch, jig competiitons to enter, and loads of regional days of dance to go to.

New Publications

Researchers have been busy … so we have two new digital publications for you, free to view online or download [PDF]:

• “Morris Dancing and Pageants in Britain 1885-2022″ a new MF digital publication by David Milner
• “Morris Dancing in Bedfordshire, a Social History, 1900-2023″ a new MF digital publication by Chas Leslie

See all MF Publications: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/publications/

New Books

For a longer read, three new books were released this year – available to buy (see below) plus – for members – we have 1 copy of each to loan out from our Lending Library

• “Carnivals, Contests and Coronations – a Social History of Morris dancing in Trafford before the Second World War” by Richard Nelson – and sponsored by the MF – available direct from Richard Nelson’s Shuffleback site
• “All Step Up: the History of Manley Morris Dancers” by Derek Schofield, available direct from Derek Schofield’s web site
• “The Ancient English Morris Dance” by Michael Heaney, available from Archaeopress or Amazon

Jig Competitions at Sidmouth & Whitby

John Gasson Jig Competition at Sidmouth
The 35th John Gasson Jig Comp will take place on Sunday 6th August 2023 at 15:00 in the Blackmore Dance Marquee, at Sidmouth Folk Festival.  To see the rules and enter the competition, download the pdf entry form at: https://johngassonjig.org.uk/entry/.  Entries are limited so send yours in now!

Cliff Barstow Jig Competition
The 8th Cliff Barstow Jig Competition will take place on Tuesday 22nd August 2023 at 16:30 in the Spa Foyer, at Whitby Folk Week.  The rules, and info on how to enter, will soon be available at: http://nicksites.net/WhiteRose/

Missed our online talks and workshops?

In case you missed it (ICYMI) – our online talks and workshops over the last 3 winters can now be found from our web site – with a new, easy-to-use, search facility (thanks to our volunteer Brian Kelly), see:
https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/resources/videos/

You can also get there very quickly in a browser by searching for #morrisfedvideo

In the media

• BBC Radio Lancashire, 21st April: Singleton Cloggers (1m 31sec)
• BBC Radio 4 Front Row, Tue 25th April: ‘Is Morris dancing having a moment?’ with Mike Heaney and Boss Morris (starts at 00:30:25)
• Tradfolk: Dancing up the Sun – May Day, 2023 – their round-up of photos and videos of morris dancers

MF & JMO Days of Dance

• MF Day of Dance and AGM – Sat 30th September 2023 in Shropshire hosted by Shropshire Bedlams & Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish in Bishop’s Castle – click to book a place

JMO 20th Birthday – Regional Days of Dance to celebrate 20 years since the first JMO DoD in Trafalgar Square:

• Sat 9th September in Belper, Derbyshire – click to book a place
• Sat 16th September in Norwich – click to book a place
• Sat 23rd September in Chester – click to book a place
• Sat 7th October in Newcastle – click to book a place
• Sat 7th October in Bath – full – click to book a place on the waiting list
• Sat 21st October in London – the big finale – fingers crossed we will be in Trafalgar Square – click to book a place

and next year … in 2024 …

• Sat 13th April 2024 – JMO Day of Dance in Newark – hosted by Trentside Holmes – save the date

The latest and correct list of our events is at: MF Events

Events from other orgs

October

• SDU Longsword Competition in Sheffield on Fri 13th – Sun 15th Oct 2023

• Illustrious Order of Fools and Beasts Unconvention in Brighton on Fri 27th – Sun 29th Oct 2023

November

• EFDSS VWML Conference in London (or remotely) on Sat 11th – Sun 12th Nov 2023 – call for papers by 28th July

April 2024

• DERT 2024 in Whitby on Fri 12th – Sun 14th April 2024

Anytime

• EFDSS What’s On: https://www.efdss.org/whats-on
• Vaughan Williams Memorial Lectures, Jan-April 2023
• The Folk Forecast – a what’s on summary of folky events
• Tradfolk – news and articles about folky things

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