FedExtra Issues

Could you be the next Morris Federation President, Malkin Morris land Heritage Lottery Grant for local North-West clog, step and tunes, photos from the AGM day of dance with New Esperance Morris in London, a brief history of North-West Morris, Simon Brock takes us on the final leg of his journey to becoming a clog maker, Malmesbury Morris’ mayor with bells on, John Bacon receives EFDSS Gold Badge, plus a roundup of weekends of dance at home and abroad, birthdays, festivals, memorials, competitions and celebrations.

The Flowers of Ilmington revive a local tradition, Dancing England gets ready to return in 2019, Ron Shuttleworth shares advice for obtaining animal skulls, a new side in Cornwall gets some professional design input, Northfields Morris become part of an alternative opening ceremony for the World Cup, Simon Brock takes us on the third stage of his journey to becoming a clog maker, the JMO National Day of Dance in pictures, plus new teams, festivals, morris weekend shenanigans and more…

The events that led to the Bucknell Pipe and Tabor being discovered and reunited, women teams win over DERT 2018, Simon Brock takes us on the second stage of his journey to becoming a clog maker, Judith Proctor talks about creating, adapting and sharing dances, Phil and Pat Honeysett celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, New Esperance Morris welcome you to our AGM and Festival of Dance, a women’s day of dance in celebration of Maud Karpeles, plus pictures of Whittlesey Straw Bear, birthday celebrations and more…

Simon Brock takes us on the first stage of his journey to becoming a clog maker, New Esperance celebrate diversity at Pride London and win best parade team, we add to the colour and life of Hull – city of culture with our annual day of dance, Belfagan dodge the showers at the Largs Viking Festival, Crook Morris host a successful DERT in Kendal, plus 25th and 40th birthday celebrations from a number of teams, and lots of festivals both at home and abroad, and more…

Priya Sundar and Lisa Heywood fuse the dance and music of Bharatanatyam and morris, Ron Shuttleworth’s Folk Play Collection is now available to view at Sheffield University, Dr Turberville’s Morris grabs the headlines on St George’s Day in Somerset, Wakefield Morris celebrate their fourth Ossett Beercart, The JMO Day of Dance in pictures, Simon Costin gives an update on The Museum of British Folklore, Mary and Mike Wilson-Jones are honoured at Cecil Sharp House with EFDSS Gold Badges, an introduction to the Fools & Beasts Unconvention for the uninitiated, JKL Videos of Sidmouth Folk Festival 1987-2004 are now available on DVD, plus Paul White’s Diary, Leek Morris visit Italy, and four more teams turn 40!

Bob Dunlop marks the centenary of the death of historian, folklorist, and archaeologist Percy Manning, Cardiff Ladies invite teams to keep the Llareggub Tradition alive, Oyster Girls, Rumworth Morris, Bare Bones Border, Invicta, and Oyster Morris all celebrate significant birthdays, NYFTE is looking for invites to dance in 2018, Leap to your Feet pay tribute to musician Debbie Howard, plus a review of the rebooted Dancing England, Goathland get a new community hub, and lots of reports of successful dance outs both in the UK and overseas.

Fool’s gambit pay tribute to four of Cecil Sharp’s demonstration team who died during the Battle of the Somme, how a shared interest in rural traditions led to the forming of Langport Mummers, a dancer’s eye view of the John Gasson Jig Competition, Tony Forster concludes his polemic: Burn Your Baldrics!, some photos from our AGM day of dance hosted in Nottingham by Mortimer’s Morris, plus birthday celebrations, colourful festivals at home and abroad, a review of the Knots of May Band’s new CD, and much, much more!

Edwin Dyson explains why he’s rebooting Dancing England, Dartmoor Morris rocket to fame with gluten-free sausages, Priston Jubilee Morris go out with a bang after 39 years, Tony Forster sets out the first part of his polemic: Burn Your Baldrics!, some fantastic photos from the JMO day of dance hosted in York by Minster Strays, plus the usual roundup of birthday and annual May Day celebrations that have been keeping everyone busy through the early part of the year.

Roy Dommett CBE is remembered, Fool’s Gambit get involved with the ‘Banks of Green Willow’ project, excerpts from the Morris Federation’s 40th anniversary exhibition, “I didn’t know women were allowed to do that!”, plus the usual roundup of morris and traditional dance activities.

The leading article by incoming Newsletter Editor, Sam Ross, is tinged with sad news of the passing of Roy Dommett, without whose knowledge and inspiration many of us would never have shared with him the ‘Joy of Morris’.