FIRST DANCE OUT 2015 THE SWAN AT BRAYBROOKE 23rd April 2015

The first dance out of the 2015 season was interesting for several reasons  Spurred on by the activities of another Person wth Parkinson's ,I set myself the challenge of dancing 2 Morris Dances with the side on St Georges day to raise funds for The Cure Parkinson's Trust I faced my challenge outside the Swan  in Braybrooke .

I'm not the prettiest of dancers - not helped by the fact that the laces at the bottom of my bells came undone allowing 4 or 5 bells to fall off and the lace dragged on the ground. ready to trip me up and I had forgotten that the Swan Car Park is on a slope

With a reasonable sized audience looking on it was a pleasant spring evening, which we shared with our old friends Hips 'n' Haws  resplendent in their new Blue and Yellow costume (at least I hadn't seen it before.. The evening ended in failing light with Shepherds Hey – with quite a few of the audience joining in.

 A total of £1207 including Gift Aid has made it's way to The Cure Parkinson's Trust - £54 being raised at the Swan on Thursday. It is interesting that I had donations from several people who I do not actually know and some who remained anonymous.It has taken me until Sunday to get feeling 'right' and my legs stop aching but having dance out for the first time I intend to continue dancing to help the side out as we are short of dancers. I will be looking to add a couple more dances to the repertoire. I may not be up to dancing every week, with PD no one know's what each day will bring but I will dance as often as I can as it has done me some good in relation to my overall co-ordination. 

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED ME BY DONATING to THE CURE PARKINSON’S TRUST.

Last Practice for Bill's Morris Dance Challenge 13th April 2015

The last chance for improvement in Bill's Dancing came and went at last Monday's Practice. Due to an error by the Northants Telegraph in stating that the challenge was back to back dancing of Constant Billy and Bluebells of Scotland we decided to give it a go. In fact we danced Constant Billy once and Bluebells of Scotland twice consecutively (3 dances in succession) - It was fine on the night but the price has been paid Tuesday and Wednesday. So 8 days to go to St Georges Day 23rd - and I am really looking forwards to it.

Constant Billy Challenge update 30th March 2015

The latest video sows the continued improvement of Bill's attempts at 'Constant Billy' ready for 23rd April 2015 at The Swan in Braybrooke at around 7.45pm. The current standing of his Justgiving page for The Cure Parkinson's Trust is
£ 460 plus Gift Aid- plenty of time left to make a donation and thanks to the side for supporting this challenge and getting me going.

Progress with Skirmish was a little less evident with a mix up at the start between dancers of who was clashing sticks with whom - soon resolved and back to normal

It all happens on practice night at Braybrooke Village Hall 30th March 2015

What Happens when the lights go out
So there we were , at our best demonstrating Jenny Lind to Lesley and Margaret who had come along to see if they would like to have a go , when in the middle of a set of double time strikes the lights in the Village Hall flickered and went out. In total darkness the side carried on with great accuracy - not a scream or yelp at fingers smacked by a stick - such practised accuracy they can do it in the dark. Looks like the culprit was a lightening flash as when we got home  all the clocks had reset to 12.00

Note this is not an April Fools prank - watch the video and see

Thursday 5th March 2015 - Market Harborough Tangent Club

A demonstration to members of the Market Harborough Tangent Club was a roaring success - a brief back ground to Morris Dancing delivered by Squire David Ball was followed by the Side demonstrating several dances including 'Constant Billy' , 'Black Joke' , and 'Smash the Windows' with David and Secretary Pauline sharing a Duet.  (Apparently it was David's first time for this one)

There was no problem when it came to getting the audience involved as everyone wanted to join in. With everyone kitted out with bells, hankies and sticks there was participation in 3 dances  "Room for the Cuckolds" and "Shepherds Hay" with "Bonny Green Garters" to finish. All agreed it was a 'Fun night' We have to hope there maybe some interest to follow on.
Goes to show how much fun Morris Dancing can be.

Thanks to the members of the Tangent Club for inviting us - we all thoroughly enjoyed it as the videos show

Latest Publicity- Morris Dancing on Radio Leicester

Clueless with Julie Mayer - BBC Radio Leicester Sunday 1st March 2015

We will go to any lengths to attract attention to our cause of recruiting new dancers. Pauline was quick to take up the offer from BBC Radio Leicester for hiding a clue by her Oil Tank which is disguised as a church - complete with clock tower. Never one to miss an opportunity Pauline was kitted out in full bells and Baldricks  waiting for the arrival of on the road presenter Julie Mayer to find the next clue. When Julie arrived about 11.30 Pauline soon had her kitted up for a quick 'stick dance' - with a very short burst of  music provided by Rowena and Bill. The clue was found and as Julie fought her way out of her Baldricks 

Pauline got in a plug for our recruitment drive and the promise of a telephone interview on Radio Leicester - so well done 'P'

Julie Mayer arives

Kitted up by Pauline

A quick stick dance

Julie heads for the Oil Tank

             

Julie finds the clue

Of to Smeeton Westerby