30 March 2019 by Melanie Barber

Joint Morris Organisations National Day of Dance 2019

The Joint Morris Organisations National Day of Dance will take place on Saturday 30th March 2019 in Manchester, hosted by Medlock Rapper on behalf of The Morris Federation.

The day will run alongside the launch weekend for Manchester Folk Festival, and will incorporate both a Morris tour and Rapper crawl in and around the centre of Manchester. The festival are organising a concert on the Saturday night for which participating teams will be able to purchase discounted tickets; further details will be published nearer the time.

If your team would like to attend then please complete the JMO NDoD 2019 Application Form by 31st December.

We look forward to seeing you there.

19 May 2018 by Sam Ross

JMO National Day of Dance 2018

The JMO National Day of Dance is a collaborative event organised in turn by one of the three morris organisations in the UK – The Morris Federation, The Morris Ring, and Open Morris.

Each year the JMO National Day of Dance is held in a different location. The three organisations rotate the organisation of the event with a member side offering to plan and host the day.

The day of dance is a celebration of morris and traditional dancing. Groups from the three organisations, and performing many different types of traditional dance, will be present in one location for one day only. This is probably the biggest annual gathering of morris dancers in the world.

Crosskey Clog (Open Morris) have offered to host the 2018 JMO National Day of Dance in Peterborough.

Further details to follow…

23 September 2017 by Sam Ross

Morris Federation day of dance and AGM 2017

Welcoming you to Hull, City of Culture!

Four of Hull and East Yorkshire’s Dance Teams – Beverley Garland, Green Ginger Garland, Makara Morris, and Rackaback Morris – are inviting all members of The Morris Federation to be a part of what promises to be a fabulous occasion on Saturday, 23 September.

The day of dance will be followed by The Morris Federation AGM.

All the dance spots will be within walking distance of the historic Guildhall, the base for the day as well as the evening ceilidh venue.

In preparation for Hull’s year in the spotlight, extensive works have been underway during the past year to transform the city. By late September most areas should be completed, with lots of lovely new squares and piazzas just waiting to be danced on.

Among the highlights of the day will be your chance to dance on the unique and award-winning Scale Lane Bridge – the only bridge in the UK where you can stay on it as it swings. You’ll also visit the Museums Quarter in our historic Old Town; Holy Trinity Church – Britain’s newest minster; the ruins of Beverley Gate, a key site in the English Civil War; plus our lovely marina and up-and-coming Fruit Market area.

Please email as soon as possible to indicate your interest in dancing at this event and then download a copy of the editable PDF booking form (also available on the Hull Day of Dance website) and return it by 15 June 2017.

thumbnail of Hull day of dance info 2017 — The 2017 day of dance

thumbnail of MorrisFed Hull 2017 editable booking form — Editable pdf booking form

Thinking of staying in Hull?

Hotel occupancy in the city is at an all-time high, owing to the interest in City of Culture events, so if you are planning to book accommodation, you must do it at your earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. Find out more information about Hull and where to stay.

4 September 2017 by Sam Ross

Dancing for Maud

On Sunday 1st of October 2017, The Belles of London City will be hosting a day of dance to celebrate the life of Maud Karpeles (1885-1976), with New Esperance Morris, Dacre Morris, Camden Clog, and Tower Ravens Rapper.

This includes visiting and dancing in places that were important to Maud and remembering her contribution to folk dance.

Itinerary

12.00-13.00 – Kensington Gardens – Albert Memorial
In 1935 Maud organised the first ever international folk dance festival which was held in Hyde Park. Considered to be a great success she also managed to calm tight political tensions between participating counties by careful arrangements of the order of countries appearance during the parade. After a hiatus in activities for WWII the 1935 festival eventually led to the formation of the International Folk Music Council in 1946. The council, which changed its name to the International Council for Traditional Music continues to support academic research into music and dance.

13.45- 15.00 – 33 Lancaster Gate W2 3LP
Maud was born into a wealthy family. Her father, who was born in Germany was a tea merchant. 33 Lancaster Gate was Maud’s first home. Maud was one of five children, her sister Helen also fell in love with folk dance and married Douglas Kennedy, who later became the director of the EFDSS.

16.00-17.00 – Cecil Sharp House 2 Regent’s Park Rd, London NW1 7AY
Maud was a close colleague of Cecil Sharp. She went on collecting trips with him (and other trips on her own) edited his publications and went on to write his biography. She was instrumental in the fundraising effort to purchase and built Cecil Sharp house in his honour after his death in 1924. After her death in 1976 a silver birch was planted in the garden in her memory, the tree said to represent her graceful dancing style.

18.00-19.00 – St Sepulchre’s Church, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DQ
Born into a non-practicing Jewish faith Maud converted to Christianity and was baptised later in life. Her funeral service was held here, in the Church known as ‘The Musicians Church’, which was fitting considering Maud’s great contribution to the collection of traditional material from England, America, and Newfoundland.

If the weather looks dire the event will be cancelled by 10am, with updates on the Belles of London City Facebook Page.

13 May 2017 by Sam Ross

JMO National Day of Dance 2017