The Morris Federation

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

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2 February 2021

Finding Morris Dancing in Archives, by Jameson Wooders

Here is a review of the talk about Morris from the Archives, given by Jameson Wooders on 30th January.  It was attended by around 200 online guests from the UK, Netherlands and the USA.

“Jameson Wooders gave the latest in a series of ‘FED’ talks via Zoom to a large audience.  The title was “Morris from the Archives” with a humorous sub-title making reference to his approaching old age, the state of his body in general, and knees in particular.  For the rest of the talk apart from the title, he acknowledged the work of his predecessors in particular Keith Chandler, John Forrest and Mike Heaney and the research done for their publications.

“The archives referred to are those of various organisations, such as the monetary accounts of noble’s estates; special groups, i.e. guilds; church records; private houses with large rural estates; personal and domestic records and paintings, tapestries and artefacts.  What the accounts show is payment for dancers and morris equipment such as bells and clothing as well as mummers, disguising and boy’s teams.  There was payment recorded for a female musician.

“He recounted his inspiration which was a search for records of any type in his local area of Berkshire seeking reference to morris; Jameson also went back and looked at the original sources used by others.  The earliest reference (found by Mike Heaney), goes back to 19th May 1448, slightly earlier than John Forrest wrote about in his “History of Morris 1458-1750”.  The occasions mentioned are various church ales and events; performances at great houses and guilds; holiday pageantry, Midsummer Watch events and calendar events such as Christmas.

Vinckenboom’s Morris dancers by the Thames at Richmond, c. 1620
Vinckenboom’s Morris dancers by the Thames at Richmond, c. 1620

“Shortage of time curtailed the story leaving out more modern times and into the variety of dance styles, but there was one thing Jameson was keen to emphasise.  Morris dancers may do it all day and all night because it is their fertility rite – but it isn’t.  The oft repeated references to morris dancing and pagan rituals have been known to be wrong for some years.  So teams, why not take the opportunity whenever it arises to tell the truth; morris dancing was and is an entertainment which has gone through various levels of society from nobleman to pub landlord.

“One final thought.  It needs emphasising that one of the skills required for this sort of research on original sources is the ability to read and decipher old writing and language and Jameson deserves massive congratulations for acquiring these skills and sharing them with us all.

by Dave Eyre, Sheffield City Morris Men & Sheffield City Giants

Clip from a painting by Vinckenboom shows Morris Dancers beside the Thames at Richmond from a picture now in the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, and dates from around 1620.

Filed Under: Current Members, News Tagged With: dancing, longsword

20 January 2021

Talk – Goathland Plough Stots Long Sword Tradition

Here is a review of the talk about the history of the Goathland Plough Stots Long Sword Tradition, given by Keith Thompson, Steve Pierson, Jim Eldon and Sally Smith on 10th January.  It was attended by over 70 online guests from the UK, Netherlands, USA and Canada.

“Keith Thompson is the Honorary President of Goathland Plough Stots, one of Britain’s oldest sword teams and his talk was the story of their tradition. It linked a long history of the team dating back to 1812 to social movements in and around the village with a selection of live music, slides and videos.

“By 1885 the railway had opened the village which was becoming a tourist destination & second homes being built for a far wealthier set of people who came to live in the village, work was plentiful and this with the excesses of a Plough Tour and the growing unruliness associated with the event meant the participants decided to stop.

Goathland Plough Stots old photo
photo courtesy of the Goathland Plough Stots

“The revival after the Great War came about under the influence of a schoolteacher – F.W. Dowson – who revived the team between about 1921 and 1923,  Keith mentioned the astonishingly long distances and times travelled on tours which inevitably finished in Whitby where the money collected on the last Saturday went to pay for vouchers for health care, all before the NHS of course. Such actions endeared them to the village.

“Teams such as these ebb and flow over the years but since that revival by Dowson the Goathland Plough Stots have always managed to take the previous tradition from their forebears and pass it on to their successors whether changed or unchanged. Sometimes a TV company might locate in the village; another time it may be a change in a headteacher or a curriculum that effects the development of the team.

“In Goathland such changes have been taken in their stride and at the moment the team is on a clear upward trajectory. Thanks to people from both the village and the energy of others associated with the team, it now has its own Hut as a centrepiece of the village life; home for artefacts; the village library; and even a camping facilities. Long may their enterprises and dancing thrive!

by Dave Eyre, Sheffield City Morris Men & Sheffield City Giants

For more information on the facilities available at the Goathland Hut see: Goathland Community Hub & Sports Pavilion.

Book flyer Goathland in Folk LoreA book is also available: “Goathland in Folk Lore: Fact and Fantasy, memories of a moorland village” – containing a section on the Plough Stots and the song “Scarborough Fair” which was collected by Frank Kidson in 1895 from Alan Wardell who lived in the village.  Available in soft back £20, or hard back £28, both plus £5 p&p – please email Keith Thompson: keiththompson5la (at) btinternet.com.  See cover on Waterstones

There are two more books in the pipeline – one about the Goathland Plough Stots team and another on The Sword Dances of the North Riding.

Filed Under: Current Members, News Tagged With: dancing, longsword

16 December 2020

How to Make Rapper Swords by Frank Lee – online talk

The Morris Federation launched a series of online workshops, talks and demos over Winter 2020-2021.  Here is a review of a demonstration & talk by Frank Lee in December 2020 to over 60 people on how he makes rapper swords.

The rapper sword he made in the filming for the demonstration was sword number 2549.  He has made 433 sets to date which have been sold worldwide.

Frank Lee
Frank Lee

“Frank went through all the steps and covered how he resourced his materials, and how to make the tools, as well as how to actually make the swords. He used videos and photos to make the process clear and, naturally, included many anecdotes along the way.

“Fascinating to see how every storey of his house is used in the process, along with many of the rooms. There were more steps than I thought there would be and quite a few required an adaptation or making of jigs to ease the job along. The ultimate justification for us hoarders of spare this-and-that in case it might come in useful one day.

“Afterwards he kindly answered additional questions from the audience.

“Remember:

  1. Never unbind a coil of spring steel in your kitchen, and
  2. Look after your sword – a lot of skill, ingenuity, love and hard work has gone into making it.

“Of course we (Ripon Spur Rapper) have a set of Frank’s swords.

“Now where did I put that spare lorry brake drum …

by Bob Barker of Ripon Spur Rapper in North Yorkshire

The demonstration was kindly run by Frank Lee, whose website is http://rapper-swords.co.uk.  Frank is a member of Carlisle Sword and Clog, Hexham Morris, Feet First Appalachian Cloggers, and Flag and Bone Gang.

Donations from participants raised money for Halsway Manor, National Centre for Folk Arts in Somerset.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: dancing, rapper, sword

12 December 2020

Cotswold for Beginners Workshops online

The Morris Federation launched a series of online workshops, talks and demos over Winter 2020-2021.  Here is a review of our first Cotswold Morris workshop held over 3 weeks in November/December 2020, for around 60 participants to learn ‘Jockey to the Fair’ in the style of Ilmington.

“I’d never thought about dancing Cotswold before 2020. I didn’t grow up with Morris, and when I discovered North West in my 30s, I thought I’d found my niche. Cotswold, with its capers and galleys, has always felt like something I wouldn’t be able to manage. But then the pandemic hit, and with it the realisation that the North West tradition has precisely one solo dance. So I decided to give jigs a try…

“The early months of the pandemic saw me out on the decking, phone in hand, as I slowly learned the Nutting Girl from my Chiltern Hundreds team-mate Owain Boorman’s instruction video. When the Morris Federation announced a series of three Sunday morning workshops with the Knights of King Ina, of course I jumped at it.

Sarah Sennett“Week one was fairly gentle, with a group of over 70 participants, mainly dancers in other traditions – although several people commented that they had lost fitness due to lack of dancing opportunities. Andrew and Lin took us through the basic steps that are the backbone of the dance, as well as emphasising the importance of warming up and stretching out at the end of a session.

“The second week took us through the rest of the chorus and the first slows (feet crossed – apart – together if you’re not familiar with the dance). I always thought I had strong legs, but half a dozen repetitions of slows and capers left me lying on the floor with shaking legs and a new-found respect for Cotswold dancers everywhere. More practice is needed I feel…

“Andrew had warned us in advance that the third and final session would involve some high kicking and to be well warmed up before we started. After recapping what we’d already learned, we went through the second slows; a sequence of claps above the head, under your leg (hence those warm ups!) and behind your back. And there you have it – in three sessions, we’d learned the whole thing and had the chance to dance it through a few times.

Andrew Knight“Andrew also impressed some style points upon us, including posture, owning the space and the importance of buying your musician a beer! I think all of us owe several pints to Tony, who sat in his car outside Andrew’s house so that they could hear each other and still not “meet” as per requirements. What a hero!

“So will you see me adding a Cotswold jig to my Morris performances when we’re allowed out in public again? Doubtful. But will I be seeking out workshops in my newly-learned style, both online and at future festivals? Can’t wait.

by Sarah Sennett, member of Chiltern Hundreds North West Morris in Watford, Hertfordshire

The workshop was kindly run by dancers Andrew Knight and Lin Steel with musician Tony Warren, all from the Knights of King Ina jig team in Somerset.

Donations from workshop participants raised money for Yeovil Freewheelers Blood Bikes: https://www.yfwbloodbikes.org/

Filed Under: Current Members, News Tagged With: Cotswold, dancing, morris

5 November 2020

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

Filed Under: Current Members, News Tagged With: ampthill, archive, bedford, bedfordshire lace, Cotswold, dancing, harris museum, history, morris, redbornstoke

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26 February 2021

Appalachian Clogging Basics – USA style

26 February 2021

More online Talks & Workshops to April

23 February 2021

Upcoming Events

  1. Talk – Morris Music – a history – Taborers Society (LIVE on Zoom)

    Saturday 6 March @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
  2. Workshops – Clog Stepping for Intermediate – Melanie Barber (LIVE on Zoom)

    Sunday 7 March @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
  3. Talk – Sussex Bonfires – Keith & Heather Leech (LIVE on Zoom)

    Sunday 7 March @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
  4. Talk – Clogs in Britain & Beyond – Michael Jackson (LIVE on Zoom)

    Saturday 13 March @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
  5. Workshop – Fiddle Playing for Morris – Sarah Matthews (LIVE on Zoom)

    Sunday 14 March @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

View All Events

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