The Morris Federation

The UK's largest association of morris and traditional dance teams

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Windsor Morris on Sunday Brunch TV

Windsor Morris 2019 TV Sunday Brunch
Windsor Morris in the TV studio

Windsor Morris was asked to appear on Channel 4’s ‘Sunday Brunch’ on 7th July 2019. Five dancers and one musician were transported at a very early hour to the studio in London to demonstrate a morris dance and teach the presenters. The presenters learned very quickly – one of them is Simon Rimmer, who has participated in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. They interviewed their foreman, Emma, courteously, and she was able to tell the world (well, the early-morning viewers) what a great life we have in the morris world. The team particularly enjoyed her reaction to the assumption that the TV appearance might be a highlight of our morris careers – “Well, it’s the highlight of this week”!

See video on Sunday Brunch’s Facebook site: Tim & Simon Learn Morris Dancing | Sunday Brunch

Windsor Morris has been a member of The Morris Federation since 1976.

Read the full article from Windsor Morris in the FedExtra magazine, Winter 2020, due in February 2020.

For more information on the team see: Windsor Morris

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Cecil Sharp’s People – web site launched

David Sutcliffe, a freelance researcher in Taunton, has developed a one-stop website for all the singers, musicians and dancers who met Cecil Sharp, as he travelled around England collecting folk music and dance between 1903-23. You can read about the lives of over 650 individuals in hundreds of locations.

See the Cecil Sharp’s People web site at: cecilsharpspeople.org.uk

A Maltwood grant from the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society has supported this project.  The support of the English Folk Dance & Song Society is much appreciated – in allowing reproduction of Sharp’s photo collection and in making available its library resources and staff time.

 

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Goathland’s Peak Performance

Goathland Plough Stots

Late on 20th September 2019, Goathland Plough Stots Longsword dancers set out on their ‘Folky Three Peaks’ challenge – with a plan to dance on the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.  And all within 24 hours!  And they hoped to raise £1,000 for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG).

They managed it within 23 hours and 48 minutes and raised over £8,000 for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia  Group! Alongside another £150 to sponsor an end of treatment bell.

Read the full article in the FedExtra magazine, Autumn 2019, pages 6-7

See the video on facebook of the Plough Stots’ dancing Longsword at the top of Ben Nevis: Goathland Plough Stots dance on Ben Nevis

For more information on the team see: Goathland Plough Stots

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New teams in Ripon and Newcastle

Read in the FedExtra magazine about two new teams:

Ripon Spur Rapper

Ripon Spur Rapper, a new mixed Rapper dance team in North Yorkshire, had their first dance out in April 2019.  They thank Frank Lee for making their swords, and Vince Rutland for his tuition.

Black Gate Morris

Black Gate Morris, a new mixed Cotswold dancing team in Newcastle, is named for a gate of the castle from which the city takes its name, and had their first dance out in summer 2019.  They thank Hexham Morris for their assistance and support.

Read about both teams in the FedExtra magazine, Summer 2019, page 8, and pages 12-13

For more information on the teams, see: Ripon Spur Rapper and Black Gate Morris

 

 

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