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The Morris Dancing Season
Spring and summer are the seasons when
you’ll see us dancing out and about in Billericay and the surrounding area.
Just click on ‘Where to see us’ above and the dates and times of our 2008
season will appear.
In the autumn and winter we practise and
perfect dances and teach new members. Complete beginners are always
welcome. We always begin by teaching a stick dance from the
village
of Adderbury, Oxfordshire
which has simple foot movements. We’d follow this by another one or two
dances from the Adderbury tradition, perhaps a short-stick dance from
Headington, and then introduce you to a handkerchief dance from Bampton
which requires a bit of hands-and-feet co-ordination. Anyway, we aim to
have you out dancing in time for Christmas and by the time the dancing
season begins you should have four or five dances under your belt. There’s
no age limit for members and tuition is free, so if you want to keep fit and
enjoy yourself in learning a very old English pastime, give our bagman a
call on 01268 710709, and he’ll let you know the date and venue of our first
practice session in September.
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The Mayflower Morris Men were formed in 1973 to dance the Morris in and around
Billericay, to learn new dances, and to maintain the traditions of the Morris.
Our side comes from all walks of life and has a spread of ages from the teens to
the fifties. Some dance to keep fit, some because it’s part of the folk scene
but all of us dance to enjoy ourselves. We have a full programme of fêtes, pub
stops, and charity events throughout the spring and summer. There is no
subscription and tuition is free (but you do need a pair of handkerchiefs!). We
practise on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. Come along, you’ll be made most
welcome!
When
well-presented, the Morris communicates to spectators
something more than the simple enjoyment of watching a dance: there's an almost
tangible sense of harmony with Nature, of primæval
magic, and of age-old pre-Dawn Rite conveyed. Enjoy it, and be sure to partake
of the Morris's good luck by contributing to the Bag and helping to keep a
quintessential part of English rural tradition alive. |
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You are visitor No
Mayflower
Morrismen are supported in performing their ancient traditional dancing
by Bennetts Funeral
Directors & Carriage Masters |
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