The Morris Federation

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

Morris in the Museum in Bedford

It is not often Morris dancing can be said to have made history but Redbornstoke Morris (1976-2018) and Bedfordshire Lace Morris (1981-2016) are the focus of a new display at The Higgins Museum in Bedford.

The display uses the the story of these two sides to explore the nature of “Tradition” and how traditions can change over time.  Titled Innovation & Tradition: 40 years of Morris, the display is on until October 2021 so there will still be time to see it after the current lockdown. The display was curated by Chas Leslie, a volunteer at The Higgins who also danced with Redbornstoke Morris for 20yrs.

Both based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, Redbornstoke Morris created their own style of dances, and Bedfordshire Lace was the first women’s morris team in Bedfordshire. The display contains items various items donated or loaned by members of the two teams including the rag coat Jenny Howard wore as the Bedfordshire Lace Fool and the smock Jerry Griffiths wore as Fool in the early years of Redbornstoke Morris.

See the exhibition: Innovation & Tradition: 40 Years of Morris at the Higgins Museum, Bedford:  https://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Exhibitions/40_Years_of_Morris/

Redbornstoke & Bedfordshire Lace Exhibition Higgins Museum 2020

Zooming up the Sun

May Day is a popular day for Morris dancing, as a start to the morris ‘season’ of performing, rather than practising.  Some teams get up and ‘dance up the sun’ at dawn (about 05:31).  Then go off to a pub for a hearty breakfast.

But this year it is different.  With social distancing, morris teams are turning to Zoom, or other conferencing software, so they can meet up virtually and enjoy the first morris event of the year.

Here are 2 sets of Hammersmith Morris dancing ‘Bampton Sidestep’ on May Day, very distanced from each other, and dancing nowhere near their local pub.  They also had to make their own breakfasts.

And further north, Pecsaetan Morris from Sheffield dancing ‘Haste to the Wedding’ at dawn on May Day.

Nationally – and internationally – there has also been a series of Lone Morris Festivals started by Kath Brickell of Anonymous Morris from Poole, Dorset.  See the results of the May Day Lone Morris Festival by searching for the hash tag #MayDayLMF.  See posts tagged #MayDayLMF on ‘How many Morris Dancers are on Facebook?’.  See previous ones at: #LoneMorrisFestival on Sat 21st March 2020 and #LoneMorrisFestival on Sat 25th March 2020.

More info on Hammersmith Morris Men and Pecsaetan Morris

Learn a morris jig

While morris dancers are self-isolating during the Covid-19 outbreak, The Morris Federation has asked several jig dancers up and down the country to video themselves teaching a morris jig so that other dancers can learn a solo jig dance at their own pace.

The first one is Fieldtown – Nutting Girl – danced and taught by Owain Boorman of Clausentum Morris from Southampton, with musician Rimini Dick-Carr.

Now is your chance to learn a new morris jig.

See The Morris Federation’s Youtube channel for this video and more as they become available.

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

 

 

New team in Darlington

Black Diamond Mixed Cotswold Morris

Read in the FedExtra magazine about a relatively new team in Darlington called Black Diamond Mixed Cotswold Morris.

The idea of forming a new mixed Cotswold morris team in the north-east was first thought about in early 2016 when a group of friends got together to discuss the lack of provision for women dancing Cotswold morris in the local area.  They have now been together for 2 years.

Read about the team in the FedExtra magazine, Summer/Winter 2018, page 26

For more information on the team, see: Black Diamond Mixed Cotswold Morris

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