Welcome
to
Leek Morris
Do you fancy trying Morris Dancing?
Do you fancy trying Morris Dancing?
Why not come along one Friday Evening for a free taster session- 7.30-9.00 p.m. ** We now have a new practice venue which is Westwood First School,
Westwood Road, Leek ST13 8DL
No pressure, just come and have a go.
We're a very friendly lot and enjoy a good laugh when
we go wrong!
Our Foreman teaches us the dances
so you can learn along with us.
Everyone Welcome
*** Contact our Bagman (secretary) via email
"sueclowes@live.com"
She will be pleased to answer any queries.
Find us on Team Finder on the Morris Federation Website.
Search for Leek Morris.
Find us on Team Finder on the Morris Federation Website.
Search for Leek Morris.
JJANUARY
17th - Dancing out with Domesday at Penkhull
24th - Uttoxeter Feast
FEBRUARY
MARCH
22nd - Beggars Oak Morris
2222222222nd - Beggars Oak Morris
APRIL
6th - Stafford Arms, Bagnall
COME AND SEE US!
MAY
9th - Leek Arts Festival
30th - Sandbach Day of Dance
JUNE
13th - Biddulph Moor
14th - Longnor Open gardens
25th - Black lion Consall
27th - HUG Leek
JULY
11th - Cheadle
12th - Grindon
AUGUST
16th - Burslem Charter Festival
SEPTEMBER
26th - Stoke Day of Dance- Morris Fed
OCTOBER
th - Lichfield day of Dance
14th - Stall at Leek Butter market
NOVEMBER
14th - Our day of Dance in Leek
DECEMBER
h - Totally Local Market in Leek
ABOUT US
Leek Morris are a group of Morris dancers who were formed in 2009.
It all began with a visit to Halsway Manor in Somerset with the Leek U3A Folk Dancing group led by Jean Bode who organised a visit each year.
Halsway is the home of English music and Folk Dance.
Whilst there, Joan Whilock and friends took part in a Morris Workshop run by Ken Winter of the Forest of Dean Morris Men. He gave much encouragement and armed with his CD of the music and scripts of the dances, ( plus fatherly advice on the phone afterwards ), Joan came back to Leek to begin a new group.
Research did not offer any evidence of a previous Morris Group in Leek, so it was not possible to follow a local tradition.
The very first proper dance out was at "Art in the Park" where a donation was offered to help purchase bells but as members of U3A, this was not allowed. This, together with the realisation that they needed to be open to all ages led to the group becoming independent.
For a start, the CD provided their only music ,but soon they were joined by an Accordian player, Brian Shufflebotham who took on the music and became a great support to the group.
And so began the fun !
Costumes and musicians !
Costumes and musicians !
Leek Morris' costume is a white shirt with a green baldric (the crossed ribbons which go over the shoulders).The original baldrics, plus extra fabric, were given by Jean Bode when the side first began and some of the lacy ribbon in the rosettes is victorian. A pair of stripey socks add more colour and then of course there are the bells, beautifully made out of yellow leather which were bought with the help of a donation from Leek Lions.
We are very fortunate to have a wonderful band of musicians - a violinist, two melodian players , one accordionist, a guitarist and a mandolin player.
T
Rehearsals are FUN ! .......
Rehearsals are FUN ! .......
...And not TOO serious ! !
...And not TOO serious ! !
A few notes about our dances.
OUR DANCES
Lads a Bunchum
Black Joke (Joak)
Postman’s Knock
Princess Royal
Skirmish
Come Landlord Fill
Constant Billy
Winter’s Dream
Ruardean Reel
Soldiers Joy
Badby Beaux
Country Gardens
Upton Hanky
Upton Stick
Hoarders
(Taken from the
(“Vandals of Hammerwich”)
Ring o Bells
Leek Torc
Shepherd’s Hey
Cock o the North
Tinner’s Rabbit
Most of our dances come from the Cotswold Tradition, mainly from the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. The Border Tradition, which comes from Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire (counties on the border of England and Wales), also gives us some lovely dances.
Other Traditions are North West, Longsword Dancing (Yorkshire & S. Durham), Rapper (from Northumberland) and Molly Dancing (from Cambridge).
