Joint Morris Organisations’ Day of Dance 2023 (Exeter)
The JMO National Day of Dance is a collaborative event organised in turn by one of the three morris organisations in the UK – The Morris Federation, The Morris Ring, and Open Morris. The day of dance is a celebration of morris and traditional dancing held annually at a different location around the UK.
In 2023 the day of dance is on Saturday 22nd April 2023 in Exeter hosted by Beltane Border Morris, based on Dartmoor in Devon, on behalf of Open Morris.
The organisers say:
“We are planning a day of Morris extravaganza full of dance, colour, music and enthusiasm, with dance spots all over historic Exeter. There will be plenty of evening entertainment, and many opportunities to sample Devon’s finest beers and ales. If your Morris team would like to make a weekend of it, there’s plenty of good places to stay, Dartmoor to explore, the fine Devon coastline for a sea swim and the chance to celebrate St George’s Day in Dumnonian style.
“Join Beltane Border and Morris teams from all over the country – and help to bring Exeter alive with Morris energy on 22nd April!
“Take a look at the JMO Day of Dance website www.jmodayofdance.com where more information on the Day of Dance will be posted as it becomes available. The day will include: opening ceremony, tours and showcase spots, film showing in the afternoon, ceilidh in the evening, plus lots of pubs primed for music sessions. Indoor camping is also available.
Rough timetable:
10 am – Opening Ceremony at Exeter Phoenix (Arts Centre) with the Lord Mayor and Jim Causley
10:30 am – Dancing begins
4:30 pm – Event closes
5:00 pm – Showing of film ‘Morris – A Life With Bells On’ at Exeter Phoenix
8:00 pm – Ceilidh featuring Mrs Midnight’s band and caller Fee Lock
#JMO2023
Bookings closed on 14th March
There may be spare places for late bookers – if your team is a member of the Morris Federation then Contact Us (use the dropdown for ‘events’) and also complete this online form: Register for the JMO DoD 2023 in Exeter but that does not guarantee you a place.
Members of Open Morris and the Morris Ring please contact your host organisation.
Around 30 MF member teams will be performing there:
| Team Name | Town and County the team is based in | Primary style of dance | web or social media link |
| Barrel Morris | Bude, Cornwall | Border | https://www.facebook.com/thebarrelmorris |
| Black Bess Border Morris | Newton Abbot, Devon | Border | http://www.blackbess.org.uk/ |
| Bootstrap Border Morris | Wellington, Somerset | Border | http://bootstrapborder.co.uk/ |
| Borderline (Devon) | Braunton, Devon | Border | borderlinemorris.org |
| Bradninch Millers Morris | Bradninch, near Exeter, Devon | Cotswold, border, stave | http://bradninch-millers.com/ |
| Cogs and Wheels Ladies Morris | South Zeal, Devon | Cotswold | www.cogsandwheels.co.uk |
| Dartmoor Border Morris | Meavy, Devon | Border | https://www.dartmoorbordermorris.com/ |
| Devizes Jubilee Morris | Devizes, Wiltshire | Cotswold | https://devizesjubileemorr.wixsite.com/devizes-morris |
| Downes on Tour | No fixed abode | Cotswold | https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/teamfinder/#!biz/id/5b053bd5afd691796be933d0 |
| Dr Turberville’s | Ash, Somerset | Cotswold | https://www.facebook.com/DrTurbervilles |
| England’s Glory Ladies Morris | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | Cotswold | www.englandsglory.org.uk |
| Enigma Border Morris | Stoke Sub Hamdon, Somerset | Border | http://www.enigmamorris.com/ |
| Frome Valley Morris | Weymouth | Cotswold | https://www.facebook.com/fromevalleymorris |
| Glory of the West | Exeter, Devon | Cotswold | https://www.gloryofthewest.co.uk/ |
| Great Western Morris | Exeter, Devon | Cotswold | https://www.greatwesternmorris.uk/ |
| Green Willow Clog Team | Dartington, Nr Totnes, Devon | North West Clog | https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/teamfinder/#!biz/id/5b053bd7afd691796be935c2 |
| Huginn and Muninn | London | Border | www.facebook.com/Huginnandmuninnmorris/ |
| Knights of King Ina | Somerton, Somerset | Cotswold Jigs | http://www.koki.org.uk/ |
| Lodestone Border Morris | Tavistock, Devon | Border | https://www.facebook.com/lodestonebordermorris/ |
| Mendip Morris | Congresbury, Somerset | Cotswold, Border, North West | http://mendipmorris.org.uk/ |
| Mr Wilkins Shilling | Bath, Somerset | North West | www.mrwilkinsshilling.org.uk |
| Otter Morris | Exeter, Devon | Border | https://www.facebook.com/ottermorris/ |
| Stroud Morris | Stroud, Gloucestershire | Cotswold | www.stroudmorris.org.uk |
| Sutton Masque | Sutton, Cambridgeshire | Border | https://suttonmasque.wordpress.com/ |
| Tinners Morris | South Zeal, Okehampton, Devon | Cotswold | http://www.tinnersmorris.com/ |
| Treacle Eater Clog | Yeovil, Somerset (practice in Rimpton) | North West | https://www.treacleeaterclog.org.uk/Welcome.html |
| Winkleigh Morris | Crediton, Devon | Cotswold & Border | www.winkleighmorris.org.uk |
| Winterbourn Down Border Morris | Bristol | Border | www.wbdm.co.uk |
| Wreckers Border Morris | St Dominick, Cornwall | Border | www.wreckersmorris.co.uk |
| Wyld Morris | Bridport, Dorset | Cotswold | http://www.wyldmorris.org.uk/ |
