WHAT ON EARTH IS MORRIS DANCING?
No one can be sure of its origins. The earliest references, dating from around 1500, are to royal entertainments. But we know that by 1700 Morris dancing had become a firmly established part of English life. Today there are well-known traditional Morris dance teams in the Cotswolds, the Welsh borders and in the north-west where the Morris is often danced in clogs. The earliest known reference to the Morris in Derbyshire is from Tideswell in 1797. The first mention of Morris in Winster dates from 1863 by which time we know that it was well-established in the village.
We welcome anyone who would like to join us for a dance. We dance the traditional Morris dances of Winster. We dance as a mixed team of both men and women.
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This is it and that is it And this is Morris dancing The piper fell and he broke his neck And he said it was a chancer. You don't know and I don't know What fun we had at Brampton A roasted pig and a cuddled duck And a pudding in a lantern. |
THE WINSTER GALLOP
A polka - a classic English folk dance tune. We dance it in public and then get people in - 32 up has been known
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BLUE-EYED STRANGER
A great local favourite on Wakes day in Winster. Our dances were collected by Cecil Sharp when he visited the village in 1908
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WINSTER REEL
Like the four other dances noted by Sharp this dance is exclusive to Winster
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PROCESSIONAL
We dance in to this tune. Our full team comprises 16 dancers but all the dances can be performed with 8 or 12 people
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CONTACT USIf you would like to dance with us - get in touch with: RICHARD POWLEY Call: 01629 636994 Email: r[email protected] |