It’s February already and spring is in the air, so why not spring into action by getting involved with one of the events listed in this Events News Fedcast. We have lots going on, including talks, JMO Days of Dance in Newark and Cardiff, a Playing For Morris Dancing workshop hosted by John Kirkpatrick, and even a SAVE THE DATE for our 18 – 39 Fed Weekend 2025.
Online Talks and Workshops
- CANCELLED Quiz – No Such thing as Folk– Sunday 3rd March
- FolkED Talks – Hosted by Stephen Rowley and like TEDtalks, but about Folk topics. Four speakers engage us with 15 minute talks on their chosen topic. Sunday 28th April 5.00 – 6.30pm
Morris Federation AGM and JMO Days of Dance 2024
Register your interest for: MF DoD and AGM in Cardiff, Sat 21st September 2024 – hosted by Cardiff Morris and friends.
Book a place on: JMO DoD in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, Sat 13th April 2024 – hosted by Trentside Holmes and friends.
18 - 39 Weekend (Sussex). SAVE THE DATE
One for the younger members...
Are you a young dancer or musician between the ages of 18 and 39, or will be in March 2025? Are you keen to meet, dance alongside and get to know other Morris folks of the same age? If so, this is the event for you. We are going to be hosting our very first 18 - 39 mixed workshop weekend in March 2025, and would like YOU to come and be a part of it. More details are to follow soon, but for now please block out those spaces in your diaries and watch this space.
When? Friday March 14th – Sunday March 16th 2025
Where? Sussex
Who for? All Morris dancers and musicians aged between 18 and 39 in March 2025.
Archives, Research and Projects News
- The results of the JMO Songs Survey were presented at the EFDSS VWML Conference in November, see the paper: Songs in Morris Dance Performance.
- Our Arts Council England-funded project “Old dances, new people, new age” is now underway and we are releasing the videos produced. They are being released on YouTube and other social media each Sunday between January and early May, and added to our YouTube ‘Buzzing Britain’ video playlist showcasing different styles of morris and sword dancing. We have so far released 7 of these videos, featuring a selection of teams including NYFTE, Liberty Hill, Chinewrde and Wakefield. Please check out the playlist and give us a “follow” to be notified on updates.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Survey. Have Your Say!
Here’s a development that some people have been waiting for… For 20 years!
The UK government is planning to ratify the UNESCO 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the DCMS (Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) has launched a public consultation on the initial stages of implementation, focusing on the defining and identifying intangible cultural heritage in the UK. This was announced on 23rd December 2023, with the first survey closing on 29th February 2024.
We would like to see Morris included.
To fill out the survey, please go to:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/2003-unesco-convention-for-the-safeguarding-of-the-intangible-cultural-heritage/
Or for more details, check out our webpage.
In The Media...
It’s been a busy time for Morris in the media. Here’s a few things of interest, in case you missed them.
- Ringheye went live on BBC Breakfast to discuss the future of Morris Dancing in the UK.
- The Face – how folk culture made a comeback in 2023
- Tradfolk – 21 Morris events to visit in 2024
- BBC Countryfile – The Morris Dancing Revival
- Check out this heartwarming article, shared by The Guardian in Jan 2024, all about how a puppy called Sasha led her owner to joining So Xsighted Morris, the Uk’s only partially-sighted Morris side.
Events From Other Organisations
February 2024
- ‘Playing for Morris Dancing’ Workshop by John Kirkpatrick – Sun 25th Feb 2024 in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire. Book now!
March 2024
- EFDSS ‘Engaging Young people in Folk Dance’ – Folk Development Day for anyone who teaches dance, Sat 16th March 2024 in London
April 2024 & 2025
- DERT 2024 – Fri 12th – Sun 14th Apr 2024 in Whitby. Register by end of January 2024.
- DERT 2025 – Fri 4th – Sun 6th Apr 2025 in Peterborough. Save the date.
October 2024
- Illustrious Order of Fools & Beast Unconvention – Fri 11th – Sun 13th Oct 2024 in Birmingham. Save the date.
Anytime
- EFDSS What’s On: https://www.efdss.org/whats-on and Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Lectures Jan-Apr 2024
- Folk Camps – book a weekend or week long fun
- Folk Forecast – a what’s on summary of folky events
- Folkscape Live – concert video recordings (some free, some paid-for)
- Halsway Manor – What’s On
- Tradfolk – news and articles about folky things
