Welcoming you!
The Morris Federation and Beggars’ Oak Clog extend a warm welcome to all members of The Morris Federation to join us in a Day of Let’s Dance, in Armitage, Staffordshire, on Sunday 2nd March 2025.
The Morris Federation and host teams are running a series of regional events to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Morris Federation, founded in 1975.
Beggar’s Oak have combined this with the Let’s Dance initiative. Let’s Dance is a national campaign to inspire everyone in the UK to embrace dance as a way to improve their health, connect with others, and have fun. It was founded by Angela Rippon CBE.
Notes from the organisers
All the plans for the Day of Let’s Dance are coming to fruition and I am delighted that Beggars’ Oak Clog can look forward to so many of you joining us for Angela Rippon’s initiative of getting the nation dancing and, of course, in celebration of the Morris Federation’s 50th Anniversary.
I now have pleasure in attaching a copy of the Programme for the day which, as you will see, is promising to be a very busy schedule, from 11:00-17:00. The key aim is for us to display our individual dance genres, listen to some fabulous music and most importantly to have FUN .
The venue is Armitage with Handsacre Village Hall, Shropshire Brook Road, Armitage, Staffordshire WS15 4UZ where there is ample free on-site parking.
Please don’t forget to bring along a packed lunch but there will be an opportunity for you to purchase light refreshments from the Cafe and the Bar, which will be open from 12:00-15:30. Please do not bring or consume your own alcohol on site.
We have shared news of our event with Midlands Today, Central News and The One Show ….. we might find ourselves appearing on the telly!!! A photographer by the name of John Harvey who films a lot of Morris has indicated that he will be attending our event. We will also have representatives from the Morris Federation joining us.
Posters have been circulated inviting the general public to come along to watch…. and participate! … throughout the day – please encourage your family and friends to do likewise. A Day of Let’s Dance is a not for profit event but we will be asking visitors to kindly make a minimum donation of £1 upon entry, the proceeds from which will be donated to St Giles Hospice … a very worthy cause I am sure you will agree.
Any profits made will go to St Giles Hospice.
Beggars Oak Clog are so looking forward to hosting the Day of Let’s Dance – it is shaping up to being a great day full of merriment.
Performers
As well as morris and molly dancers, there will be Belly Dancers, Irish Dancers, Line Dancers, Folk Dancers, and Folk Musicians, some of which you can join in with.
The Morris/Molly Teams booked are listed below.
Any queries about the event, please email contact-us@beggars-oak.org.uk
| Team | Dance Style | County | Contact | Org |
| Beggars’ Oak Clog | North West | Armitage, Staffordshire | https://www.beggars-oak.org.uk/ | MF |
| Brummie Gems Molly Dancers | Molly | Birmingham, West Midlands | https://glorishears.co.uk/ | MF |
| Ironmen and Severn Gilders | Border, North West | Telford, Shropshire | https://www.imsg.org.uk/ | MF |
| Leek Morris | Cotswold, Border | Leek, Staffordshire | https://leekmorris.my-free.website/ | MF |
| Three Spires Morris | North West | Lichfield, Staffordshire | https://threespiresmorris.wordpress.com/ | MF |
| Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris | Cotswold | Uttoxeter, Staffordshire | https://www.uttoxetermorris.co.uk/ | MR |
| Stafford Morris | as above | Stafford, Staffordshire | https://www.staffordmorris.co.uk/ | MR |
Key. Org: The team is a member of one of the three morris organiastions, MF = Morris Federation, MR = Morris Ring, OM = Open Morris
Event hashtag: #MorrisFed50
