Events

In the last 20 years significant advances have been made in understanding the origins of mumming and mummers plays.  The ‘pagan’ fertility ritual of life and death theory has been thoroughly rebutted and shown to be a misguided scholastic invention of the 1880s.  Examination of the evidence reveals a rich and colourful story of traditions with threads extending far beyond the shores of Britain. Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

Peter Bearon's talk will compare the coconut dance tradition in the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire with that of Els Moretons in Manacor, Mallorca. Both traditions are likely to have originated during the 1850s. The coconut dance tradition from Provence known as ‘Lei Cocot’ or ‘Les Coco’ will then be considered. ‘Lei Cocot’ appears to date from the first half of the 19th century.  We will then look at the development of coconut dancing on the 19th century stage and the possible transmission of the dance from stage to street. Finally, we will look at the tune generally known as the Rochdale Coconut Dance and the tune used by Els Moretons and compare them both with a tune simply called Cocoa Nut Dance published in tune collections in the 1830s/1840s. Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

Simon Costin will be speaking about his project to establish the UK’s first ever museum dedicated to our seasonal customs and events. An overview of the project from his early influences and how he took to the road in 2009 in a painted caravan, travelling across the UK to gauge interest in the project, and then highlighting some of the many exhibitions that the museum has set up over the past few years including how the Morris Doll collection came to be. Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

Brian Kell will talk about the history of the Whittlesea Straw Bear from the past to the present, along with the changes which have occurred throughout the years of the revival.  Brian Kell was the founder and is honorary president of the revived Whittlesea Straw Bear festival, and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2013 for services to music and the community in Whittlesey. Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

An illustrated talk on some more unusual English customs with songs and pictures presented by Gill and Barry Goodman. “Traditional Treasures” will lead you through the magic, mystery and madness of English traditional customs in story, live songs and visual images. The customs they will cover include: House Wassailing, The Olney Pancake Race, Tavistock Goosey Fair, Helston Flora Day, The Whitby Penny Hedge, The Haxey Hood Game, Apple Tree Wassailing. Presentation for approx 1 hour, then 30 mins for Q&A. Click on the link below to book a place and you will be sent a Zoom link to access the event.

Owain Boorman will teach the Cotswold morris jig - 'Ladies' Pleasure' - in the style of Fieldtown.  This follows on from the Nutting Girl jig in the style of Fieldtown from the Jig Instructional. The Jig and workshop will bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate and will be suitable for most dancers who know how to double step, and those who attended our beginners Cotswold workshop last year. The workshop will be led by Owain Boorman accompanied by his long suffering partner, musician Rimini Dick-Carr.  Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

The talk draws on Peter Harrop’s editorial and introductory contributions to The Routledge Companion to English Folk Performance published last year (2021). He will use examples of morris dancing, mumming and sword dancing to consider four broad points. Presentation for approx 1 hour, then 30 mins for Q&A. Click on the link below to book a place and you will be sent a Zoom link to access the event.

Have you ever wondered what might be the best way to bring on a beginner when they join your team?  Would you find it useful to have a model of how teachers teach and learners learn?  Have you been missing an opportunity to learn from other foremen about what they do? In this session, Emma Wooders will share some teaching tips which might be useful for foremen (old, new and aspiring) garnered from her other life as a teacher as well as her foreman's experience.  There will be practical suggestions as well as some of the big ideas behind them to help develop your practice at practice. Click on the link below to book a place and you will be sent a Zoom link to access the event.

Knights of King Ina are restarting their workshop series with a chance to run through a number of Cotswold Jigs in preparation to a dance season where dancers and teams can again go out and meet.  It is offered as an in-person workshop in Somerset, and also online over Zoom at the same time.  So it's also a chance to experience a 'hybrid' event.  Click on the name of the event for more info and to register for a place.

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.