Spain has a vibrant traditional dance culture, with many distinctive regional styles.  Catalunya is notable for its 'Balls Populars' – Popular Dances.   There are aspects of these dances which we as morris dancers can identify with, for instance costume (whites, baldricks, bell pads), columnar form, pipe and tabor music, sticks and handkerchiefs.  In this talk Stephen Rowley takes us to the Fiesta to find out more. Visca Balls Populars! Visca Catalunya! Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

“How do we get to the top of Google?” is a question you might be asking, especially if you’re looking to recruit new members or you want to make it easier for event organisers to find information about your side. We probvide two different approaches which you can use (for free!) to help get information (including photos and videos) of your side to the first page of Google results – and we’ll provide evidence of the effectiveness of these approaches which, as you can see from the results of a search for “Mixed morris side near me” is working for at least side sides in the south west. We’ll also explain how you may be able get information about your side to the first page of Google results even if you don’t have a website – this session isn’t just for IT geeks Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

You probably want to recruit new dancers or musicians. Or you want event organisers to easily find details of your side.  So if details of your side were to be found in the first few results for a Google query such as “looking for a mixed morris side in Dorset which welcomes new members” you’d be very happy. Especially if the first result included photographs and videos of your side.  

That problem has been solved – even if your side does not have a website (in brief add appropriate words and upload photographs and videos to your Morris Federation’s Teamfinder service). 

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In this illustrated talk, Sue Allan considers the styles and sources of the dances performed at Keswick, Ulverston, Wigton, Blennerhasset, Cockermouth and Workington, which she has researched for over forty years. Newspaper reports, memoirs and even a novel reveal tantalising glimpses of the dancing, while photographs of dancers and interviews with former performers and teachers shed yet more light on performances.

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Expanding on 'Masquerade and Fun', an article written for Rattle Up, My Boys, this talk examines the place of sword dancing in winter festivities and contrasts it with civic and religious performances. The central importance of disguise and colour will be discussed.

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This illustrated presentation will consider the origins of the morris dancing in Trafford; the different ways in which morris developed in Altrincham (formerly Cheshire) and Stretford (formerly Lancashire); the context for morris dancing in the 1920s and 1930s and the implications of the competitive aspect; what is known about the format of the morris dancing and lutcomes of research that have intrigued or surprised the presenter.

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Many Morris Federation sides provide rich descriptions of their side )including videos and photos) on the Morris Federation Teamfinder service - and we now find that the profile (and videos and images) can be found near the top of Google! In addition sides are being creative in how they use video (especially 'short form videos' less than 2 minutes long) to engage with users on social media - and the viewing figure are showing how popular such videos may be, in particular with younger audiences who are potential new recruits.

This workshop will review how sides have updated their profile recently and share success stories and ways in which profiles can be improved.

Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.