The Morris Federation

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

FedExtra

The quarterly newsletter of The Morris Federation

Our newsletter is a printed magazine that is part of the membership offer to both our team and individual members. It is published four times a year.

The deadline and publication dates for the printed copy are:

Winter: 15 December for February
Spring: 15 March for May
Summer: 15 June for August
Autumn: 15 September for November

A digital download will be made available to our members via email at the same time as the print publication. This digital version will be published online when the next issue goes to print.

To advertise in FedExtra, please download the advertising rates and templates and then contact Sam Ross (Newsletter editor).

FedExtra Winter/Spring 2017

thumbnail of 2017-winter-springBob 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.

View and download: FedExtra Winter/Spring 2017 (3Mb)

Contents:

04: Welcome to the Winter/Spring issue: a message from the editor
04: Contact your committee: details of how to get intouch
05: President’s prologue: email broadcasts, website revamp, and risk assessments
06: The Centenary of Percy Manning: the man who collected Oxfordshire
08: The Isle of Wight’s Oyster Girls celebrate their 35th anniversary
09: Cardiff Ladies Morris invite teams to keep the Llareggub Tradition alive
10: An introduction to the Rumworth Morris of Bolton as they turn 40 years young
11: The Morris Ring dance in/out: Adam Garland passes the baton to Eddie Worrall
12: Bare Bones Border Morris celebrate their 30th year out and about in Loughborough
12: “I didn’t know women were allowed to do that!”: our 40th photo exhibition
14: The National Youth Folklore Troupe of England: could they appear at your event?
15: Boss Morris: an introduction to the team and their unique morris style
16: Invicta: The first ladies team in Kent mark their 40th year by dancing with friends
17: Dancing England: a review of the rebooted celebration of traditional dance
18: Mepal Molly: one of the first Molly revival teams looks back over the last 40 years
20: Oyster Morris: continuing their year of 40th anniversary celebrations
21: Morris Dance Database: a resource for searching traditional dance repertoires
22: Kingston Morris in Poland: providing a very English display on the Baltic Coast
23: Dartmoor Border Morris: Go West! with photos of local shenanigans
24: Mayflower Morris: the Hants/Surrey North-West side, share details of last year’s events
25: Goathland Community Hub: the new cultural exhibition centre for sword dancing
25: Debbie’s Dance: a fitting tribute to a sadly missed musician, Debbie Howard
25: Diary Dates: a collection of up-coming dance events from around the UK
27: Paul White’s Diary: Going nuts in May, and what’s morris got to do with wassail?
28: Get set for our Day of Dance and AGM in Hull – the 2017 city of culture!

FedExtra Autumn 2016

thumbnail of Newsletter Autumn 2016

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!

View and download: FedExtra Autumn 2016 (4Mb)

Contents:

04: Welcome to the Autumn issue: a message from the editor
04: Contact your committee: details of how to get in touch
05: President’s prologue: AGM update and guidelines to teams using face paint
06: A tribute to fallen morris: Fool’s Gambit honour four men killed at the Somme
08: Boosting the ranks: a successful taster session for Wakefield Morris
08: “I didn’t know women were allowed to do that!”: our 40th photo exhibition
10: Garston Gallopers: a hectic dance season and their first day of dance
11: Pictures of the impossible: Coton Morris and the case of the flying morris man
11: Diary Dates: a selection of dates from events occurring around the country next year
12: Three weddings & a funeral: Tywardreath Morris share stories from their schedule
13: Our AGM Day of Dance: photos from Nottingham, hosted by Mortimer’s Morris
14: Burn Your Baldrics! Part 2: do we need to let go of the past to embrace the future?
16: Langport Mummers: how an interest in rural community traditions formed a troupe
17: Morris, the next generation: East Sussex Children’s Traditional Dance Festival
18: Lè Festival d’Guernesi à Danserie Morris: 200 dancers invade Guernsey
19: Chalford Stick Company: A dancer’s eye view of the John Gasson Jig Competition
20: Sur le continent: Locos in Motion flashmob the Correze region of France
21: Music, dance, and the Evesham Stick: it’s the National Morris Weekend
22: Ebor Morris: An introduction to the team, and the York Festival of Dance
24: Birthday greetings: Glory of the West, Wild Hunt Bedlam, and an invite to Ripley’s 90th!
26: Leap to you Feet!: Meet Lancashire’s Appalachian dancers and the Soya Band
27: Mayoral masterclass: Hurst Morris People get the local town councillors dancing
28: Knots of May: 42 years and counting, plus a review of the Knots of May Band’s new CD
30: Eccleston Heritage Clog: continuing to prove that ‘the children are the future’
31: Paul White’s Diary: what to do at a folk festival when injured, East Anglia, and blacking up

FedExtra Summer 2016

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.

View and download: FedExtra Summer 2016 (4Mb)

Contents:

04: Welcome to the Summer issue: a message from the editor
04: Contact your committee: details of how to get in touch
05: President’s prologue: JMO day of dance and upcoming Morris Fed improvements
06: Jack in the Green: an overview of the 33rd annual spring festival in Hastings
08: English Folk Costume Archive: a collection storing and caring for folk costumes
09: “I didn’t know women were allowed to do that!”: our 40th photo exhibition
10: Dancing England Rebooted: Edwin Dyson explains why he is reviving an old event
12: Shropshire Morris: a day of dance for morris sides from across Shropshire
12: Diary Dates: don’t forget our day of dance and AGM in Nottingham on Sat 24 Sept
14: JMO National Day of Dance: photos from this year’s event hosted by Minster Strays
16: Dartmoor Border Morris: gluten-free sausages rocket a Devonshire team to fame
17: Priston Jubilee Morris: out with a bang after 39 years of local dance
18: Burn Your Baldrics! Part 1: did the revival bring about the mockery of the morris?
20: Hook Eagles: pictures of their day of dance to start their 25th season
21: Historical Dance Society conference: the Histories of the Morris in Britain
22: May Day Revelries: Three Shires Morris, Rampant Rooster & Fiddlesticks NW
24: Oyster Morris: 40 years of dancing, culminating in a year of celebrations
25: Screeming Banshees: tips to new teams on getting started and finding new members
27: Paul White’s Diary: getting it right – in dancing, kit, and general presentation
28: Morris Federation Goods and Merchandise: from books to bells, we’ve got it covered

FedExtra Spring 2016

In the new look Spring issue there are six pages dedicated to Roy Dommett CBE, filled with memories and pictures from throughout his life. In addition, there is exciting news from Fool’s Gambit on their involvement in the ‘Banks of Green Willow’ project, some 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, including a significant number of birthday celebrations.

View and download: FedExtra Spring 2016 (6Mb)

Contents:

04: Welcome to the Spring issue: a message from the editor
04: Contact your committee: details of how to get in touch
05: President’s prologue: an overview of what the Morris Fed offers its members
06: Roy Dommett remembered: a tribute from Fleet Morris, by Denise Allen
09: Roy’s legacy: 40 years of Fleur de Lys ladies morris and Invicta Morris
10: Memories of Roy: short stories and anecdotes by Barbara Butler
12: High Spen Success: first place win at the North East Rapper Competition
12: 35 years of Mason’s Apron: looking back and celebratory plans for 2016
13: Ossett Beercart: Wakefield Morris prepare for the third festival on 3-5 June
14: Banks of Green Willow: Fool’s Gambit celebrate Cecil Sharp’s demonstration team
15: Eccleston Heritage Clog: enjoyment, fun and determination from Year 6
16: “I didn’t know women were allowed to do that!”: a photo exhibition of the Morris Fed
18: 30 years of Ditchling Morris: 2015 was a busy year, some memories in pictures
19: Garlands and Maypoles with Jerusalem Jammers in and around Leicester: in pictures
20: 25 years of Hook Eagle Morris: the key to happiness is music, exercise, & friends
21: Wassail! Three accounts of fruit-based January celebrations
22: Eccleston Heritage Clog remember when it all began: thoughts & challenges
23: Legacy Morris: what will happen to your morris ‘stuff’ when you pass away?
23: Money, money, money: ideas needed for projects to help young dancers
24: 25 years of Maybe Morris: the weekend of dance in Arundel was a highlight of 2015
25: Obituary – John Thomas: Rose and Castle Morris founder member, since 1977
27: Paul White’s Diary: new members and Cornish wassail with Cat’s Eye Morris
28: Morris Federation Day of Dance and AGM: info about our annual event

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