The Star, Geddington

A good evening in Geddington last night, by the Star (next to the Eleanor Cross). We are the ones in white, and the side in red is Hips N Haws. We have danced together on several occasions now, always a pleasure.

The George, Ashley

A lovely evening tonight in Ashley - we have never, apparently, danced at a pub here before, although we did dance at a fete 18 years ago! Thank you to the George for the sandwiches and encouraging people to come and watch, and to everyone who came to see us.

Dog and Gun, Walton

Monday 9th May. Our first Monday night out.

Raunds Festival

Very good to appear on the square in Raunds, as part of the 2011 Raunds Festival, with Moulton Morris (above, with umbrella) and Rockingham Rapper (above, in black). Two things of historical interest about Raunds: in 1905 Raunds bootmakers marched to London in protest at the level of their wages. And, in 1800, there were riots against the Enclosure Act. A local clergyman responded to this by writing verse in Latin.

Market Harborough, May 1st

It is our tradition to welcome May by dancing in Market Harborough town centre early on May 1st. And so, here we are this morning, between 630 and 730. Thank you if you were in the small but perfectly formed (and larger than last year!) audience.

Programme for 2011

Our programme for 2011 is ready! On Monday nights, from May - September (except August), we "dance out", in various locations around north Northamptonshire and South Leicestershire. We have some bookings on Saturdays as well, and are pleased to have the chance to support Macmillan collectors in Market Harborough on a couple of Saturdays. Our dancing out programme also includes a midsummer dance at Billesdon with Bakanalia and other sides, and this year includes an invitation to Bakanalia's 20th Anniversary tour in September.

Details of our programme are on this website.

Seaside Holidays for the Working Classes

And folk dancing for slum girls - two of the achievements of Mary Neal, and the title of an exhibition by Faye Claridge at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.

Mary Neal ran a club for working women in London, as a place for factory women to go. Cecil Sharp introduced her to morris, and in the end, as I understand it, they fell out, as she believed that it was ok to modify the dances, he believed the dances should be danced in the same way as he had seen them danced when he wrote them down.

The exhibition includes photos of one of our members, and a video loop of him and another member, as the last members of the last Morris side in Rugby borough. Today there was a Morris themed event at the gallery, featuring us and Anker Morris Men from Nuneaton. Many thanks to Faye for asking us - here are some photos.