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 have both a men's and a women's team and we often dance as a mixed team of both men and women.

THE MORRIS DANCES OF WINSTER

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

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

WINSTER REEL

Like the four other dances noted by Sharp this dance is exclusive to Winster

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

CONTACT US

If you would like to dance with us - get in touch with:

RICHARD POWLEY

Call: 01629 636994
Email: richard.powley@makepaper.net