Review of the online talk and songs given by Gill and Barry Goodman on 11th April 2021.  Gill has been a volunteer at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin since 2007 and was founder member of Bedfordshire Lace Morris.  Barry is a folk singer, songwriter and musician, ex-member of Redbornstoke Morris and The Outside Capering Crew, as well as an ex-President of the Morris Federation!  Find out more at Gill & Barry’s web site: www.barrygoodmanfolk.co.uk

Review by Beth Neill

“This talk was well attended by over 120 people – and it was very enjoyable.  Gill and Barry explained that this is a talk they usually present to WI or U3A audiences who will be less familiar with the world of folk traditions and customs, but there were probably elements that were new to several people, depending on which part of the country we live in.

“Their introduction to how they got involved in the folk world was worth it for some of the early ‘70s pictures of them.   Barry is well known to many of us as a dancer, singer, caller and musician – but the joint stage act of Gill and Barry was new to me and they make a great presenting team. We were treated to a very clear script with musical interludes. As Barry said, if there wasn’t a song about the tradition – he wrote one!

“This talk was a chronological trip through English customs – they do another one which is instead a geographic tour (hint – maybe they could do that one in the autumn if we aren’t back to normal life yet …).   They covered Maypole dancing, Sweeps Processions and Jack in the Green festivities, Well Dressings, Rushbearing, Tar Barrels, Mumming plays, Whittlesey Straw Bear, Jack Valentine and their very own Ampthill Sunrise on May Day.

“Each custom was put into some historical context: when it was first recorded, if it disappeared [often because the arm of the law intruded to limit celebrations] and when & how it was revived. There were some excellent images from 19^th and early 20^th century events and it does seem that the Victorians had a lot to do with many of our ‘ancient’ traditions, such as Ruskin bringing in the idea of the ribboned maypole.

“As I grew up in Derbyshire I appreciated the Well Dressing presentation: it brought back fond memories of raiding gardens for hydrangeas and borrowing tweezers. The one tradition that was unknown to me was Jack Valentine – who is apparently well known to some of those who grow up in Norfolk and is a slightly skewed Victorian version of Father Christmas whereby children receive presents in February (as well as December).

“A very pleasant way to spend Sunday afternoon (with it snowing outside!).

Review by Beth Neill of Windsor Morris

Donations from the participants raised money for the British Schools Museum in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Review of the workshop to teach ‘Waiting for the Vaccine’, a solo Border style dance, given by dancers Linda Glanville & Pauline Woods-Wilson, with musician Jay Glanville, held online over zoom on 10th April 2021.

Review by Rosemary Young:

“The workshop took place on 10^th April 2021, with a YouTube video of the dance to music being sent out a few days beforehand so we knew what we were letting ourselves in for!  There were also useful Zoom tips sent with the remote joining instructions to help those participants who were less familiar with this platform.

“The workshop was hosted by Linda & Jay Glanville and Pauline Woods-Wilson, with Jay playing the music and Linda and Pauline teaching the dance. 

“In acknowledgement that many participants have already received their first dose of the Covid vaccine, the dance was tentatively renamed “Waiting for the 2^nd jab”, but whatever its name, it was devised by Linda and Pauline as a dance that could be done by 1 or 2 people in a socially distanced manner.  The attendance of over 60 participants was a good indication of the interest in dancing in such restricted situations

“The workshop included a warm-up, which is often over-looked and especially pertinent for those of us doing the Morris Federation’s ‘Return to dancing fitness’ course.  An effective use of the technology enabled split screen demonstrations by Linda and Pauline; this was particularly good for showing the figures from different perspectives which together with Pauline’s floor markings and some diagrams helped explain the patterns of the dance.  Having 2 leaders working well together gave us clear calls for the figures and music as well as a dancer to follow, overcoming an initial slight sound issue.  They ensured that everyone was able to follow the gradual build up of the dance’s chorus and figures and patiently deconstructed them for anyone experiencing difficulties following the initial explanation.   

“By the end of the 90 minutes we had learnt the whole dance and danced it through several times, indeed, it was starting to feel familiar.  

“The dance was simple but effective, creating imaginative figures and the teaching was clear and well presented.  We were told that the notation will be sent out to the participants following the workshop and we were encouraged to adapt it to the styles of our different teams, changing the tempo and tune as required.  We have already started to think how it would work for our side!

“Overall, as the comments in the chat showed, the workshop was much appreciated by the attendees.

Review by Rosemary Young of Plum Jerkum Border Morris of Warwick

Resources

• Video: Link to Video Demo of ‘Waiting for the Vaccine’ solo Border dance (6 mins) – Simple Chorus followed by Progressive Chorus
• Notation: Link to Dance Notation for ‘Waiting for the Vaccine’ solo Border Dance (PDF).

Linda Glanville is currently foreman of Silhill Morris and a member of Chinewrde and Chiltern Hundreds.

Pauline Woods-Wilson is currently a member of Stone the Crows Border Morris, Rivington Morris, Chiltern Hundreds, and Windsor Morris (and sometimes Downes on Tour).

Jay Glanville provided the music, and is a member of Silhill Morris and Chiltern Hundreds.

Donations from the participants raised money for Shelter.

Review of the online talk by Dr Matt Simons on 3rd April 2021.  Dr Matt Simons is a dancer and researcher based in south Lincolnshire.  He is a part-time lecturer in Modern British History at De Montfort University, and full-time dancer with numerous sides including Peterborough Morris and Bourne Borderers.  This talk was based on Matt’s doctoral thesis in 2019, entitled ‘Morris Men: Dancing Englishness, c.1905-1951’.

Review by Dave Eyre

“The background to the Morris Revival was founded in an atavistic search for “Merrie England”; that search itself a product of the development of an antiquarian desire to find ancient origins and lineage; this rural past being idyllic, containing simplicity, beauty and purity. At the same time a long- standing industrialisation and urbanisation had led to the decline of rural pursuits in general and a decline in morris dancing which faded almost into obscurity. NB we are talking solely Cotswold or South Midlands in this talk.

“Morris dancing was collected in the 1880’s- 1900’s; to help reproduce in pageants by one revivalist; in the manner of a song collector by another.  Two people come into the story at this point – Mary Neal – who was running a project in London to help young working class girls and Cecil Sharp interested in making a music with a “national” flavour. They came together in Neal seeking help from Sharp first of all with song and then later with dances. Sharp pointed Neal towards the (revived) Headington dancers he had seen in 1899.

“The success of Neal’s dancers led to a rapid expansion – the beginning of a revival if you like – with full-time and part-time instructors and the writing down of dances in the first edition of the “Morris Book”. Relationships between the two broke down mainly over the best way to teach morris and, in particular, in December 1911 Sharp formed the English Folk Dance Society – whose ethos and policy was in opposition to Neal’s and they drifted apart. The Esperance Society closed during hostilities, Sharp’s classes went on once WW1 was over.

“Douglas Kennedy took over after Sharp’s death and began practical measures to expand the morris, rooted in informal village-like groupings and more and more groups; (Cambridge, Letchworth,Thaxted) and by the 1930’s weekend gatherings. These expanded into the Morris Ring in 1934 – to be an informal grouping of clubs, each with its own sense of identity. By 1939 there were 37 clubs.  There was an emphasis on “maleness”. 

“During WWII there had been a direct hit on Cecil Sharp House and after the war, to revive the EFDSS, Douglas Kennedy was keen to rescue the reputation of country dance from the old stereotypes leaving the development and growth of morris to the Ring and its constituent clubs to the detriment of women’s morris.

“The Festival of Britain 1951 was intended to give a sharp edge to the end of the war and the austerity that followed it, and whilst there was an emphasis on the new, the “old” got a look in too with morris featuring in street displays and even a festival at Thaxted, by now seen nationally as a place for morris dancing.

“That takes us to the end of the period under discussion, but it is hoped that the correct permissions can be obtained for a wider dissemination. If you missed it, are interested in morris dancing and would like to see it, do take the opportunity.

Review by Dave Eyre of Sheffield City Morris Men and Sheffield City Giants

Donations from the participants raised money for Samaritans and to help fund Matt’s ongoing research projects

Review of the Family Dance Workshop aimed at dancers aged 7+, given by Rachel Cole-Wilkin on 3rd April 2021.  She is a member of The Belles of London City morris team, and assistant morris dance tutor at the English Folk Dance and Song Society, and has previously danced with Sharp Morris in London and Berkeley Morris in California.

The dances we workshopped were: Swedish Masquerade (Traditional Ceilidh dance), Shepherd’s Hey (Cotswold Morris), The Troika (Russian Folk Dance).

Review by Mike Loftus

“What a shame that there weren’t more at the workshop – you missed a treat on an Easter Saturday afternoon.

“We made it a family event, taking my young grandson along. Rachel talked us through the dances and demonstrated the moves very well, which was very helpful for any novices joining in. Her manner was excellent – a lovely friendly tone.  I understand the limitations due to Covid but live music would have made the experience even better.

“A sign that it was an hour well spent must be that my grandson then spent another hour dancing around the dining room and playing our musical instruments!

Review by Mike Loftus of Leven Sword in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire

Donations from the participants helped support Rachel’s work as a freelance dance teacher.

More Morris History, and a chance to learn a couple more dances.

If you need more exercise then we are very impressed with teams that are doing Rhys Boorman’s workouts together at their online practice sessions.

The big ones are the JMO Day of Dance on Sat 24th April – everyone from all 3 morris orgs welcome.  (The JMO is the Joint Morris Organisations – the Morris Federation, the Morris Ring and Open Morris) and our ‘Workshop Showcase’ Day on Sun 9th May – come along to perform together all the dances we’ve learned in our online workshops this winter, so get practising.

Come along to our events (LIVE on Zoom)

Click on the links below to find out more and to register.  The latest and correct list will always be at: www.morrisfed.org.uk/events/. Also posted on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/MorrisFed.org.uk.

see all MF events & register

 April 2021

• Workshop – Border – ‘Waiting for the Vaccine’ solo dance – Sat 10th April 15:00-16:30.  Linda Glanville & Pauline Woods-Wilson teach a newly-devised solo Border style dance which can easily be adapted for two dancing together.  Optional ‘progressive’ choruses.
• Talk – “Good Morning, Lords and Ladies” – Gill & Barry Goodman – Sun 11th April 16:00-17:30.  The magic, mystery & madness of English traditional customs through the year, in story, song & visual images.  From May Day to Ottery St Mary Tar Barrel Rolling, Whittlesey Straw Bear, Derbyshire Well Dressing and Norfolk “Jack Valentine”, and more.
• Not one of our events but lots on at Folk Weekend Oxford on Fri 16th – Sun 18th April.
• Joint Morris Organisations’ Day of Dance 2021 – Sat 24th April 10:00-17:00.  All 3 morris orgs invite you to play and dance the day away.  Two parallel streams: Morris Music Sessions, and Dance Workshops for various styles.  We’ll finish off the day with massed dancing.  NEW!
• Talk – The Adderbury Morris Men – Sun 25th April 16:00-17:30. Find out about the Adderbury tradition in Oxfordshire that died out in the 19thC, what sparked its revival in 1975, and what happened next.

May 2021

• Last session of 6 Week Programme – Return to Dancing Fitness – Rhys Boorman – Sun 2nd May 10:00-11:00.  Get dance fit with Rhys with the weekly videos (see the playlist linked from that page).  This is the final ‘live’ session.  No need to re-register if you registered for the first one.
• Talk – Who were the Sword Dancers and why did they do it? – Andrew Kennedy – Sun 2nd May 16:00-17:30.  We take a look at the people who did sword dancing in Britain and northern Europe from 14thC to 19thC.  NEW!
• Workshop Showcase Day – Sun 9th May.  Be a Lockdown Learner!  Show off all your newly acquired skills and dances that you’ve learned at our workshops.  For each Cotswold, Clog, North West, and Border dance we’ve done in the workshops, we’ll have a rehearsal then we can all dance it together and take a video recording for posterity.  NEW!
• Talk – ‘Morris Dancers and Rose Queens’ Volume 1: 1888-1900 ‘Once over Lightly’ – Johnny Haslett – Sat 15th May 16:00-17:30.  A tour of his book – an anthology of reported carnivals and galas in West Lancashire between 1888 and 1900, together with the accompanying morris dancing activity. NEW!

We are having a break from online weekend events after 15th May, and starting again in the winter, so do please get in touch if you would like to offer a talk or workshop, or suggest someone else to run one!

see all MF events & register

In other news …

Morris Federation’s Day of Dance & AGM in September

We’ve made the sad decision to cancel the Day of Dance in September with hosts Customs and Exiles, who have been ever so patient and we thank them for all their hard work planning this event.  So this year’s AGM will be held online over Zoom on Saturday 25th September 2021.

Next year we’ll look forward to seeing you in person in Darlington as hosts of Black Diamond Mixed Cotswold Morris on Saturday 24th September 2022.

Fancy being our Events Officer?

It has been a lot of fun organising these events for you, and we’ve already had requests and volunteers to run online events over Winter 2021/22.  So we now have a role of ‘Events Officer’ up for grabs.  If you fancy helping make our events happen, which includes liaising with potential speakers/workshop leaders, creating web pages, managing the bookings, emailing registrants and hosting the events, please email Pauline at president@morrisfed.org.uk with info about your experience and what you would be happy to contribute.

We need your video editing skills!

We’ve been recording most of the online events, but it takes a lot of time to do a professional job on them to edit out all the little interruptions, and add the branding and credits.  If you have some spare time and video editing skills and would like to help edit our videos for posterity, or even create new videos, then please email Sally Smith, our Communications Officer, at communications@morrisfed.org.uk with info about your experience and how you could help.

Hope to see you at one of our events soon!