Come! Watch and join Seabright Morris and Sword
It would be unfair to say that there are no rules about how to join us,
but it would be unfair to say that there are any rules about how to join
us. We are neither big nor organized enough for absolutes.
Feel free to contact us
and get more information about what we are doing.
Cotswold Morris
In general, Cotswold beginners have started with us in the autumn and practiced
until spring to get it all figured out. However dedicated beginners have
started as late as January and done fine. For beginners who are ready to
be initiated there is a Kit Sewing Party (usually during March) which immediately
precedes the spring dancing season.
The best arrangement is to visit and meet us at practice during the
autumn months. Joining at other seasons is possible, but we don't perform
much outside the spring.
Sword
Sword requires more cooperation than Cotswold. The team becomes tightly
linked during the practice and performance. There is currently no sword
practice happening, but if we get enough interest a group could be started.
Musicians
A distinguishing feature of the morris is that it is uniformly danced to
live music. Musicians who love to play lively folk tunes are very precious.
New musicians who would like to perform with the team may show up at any
time and practice alongside the existing fiddlers and pipers. While it's
not a fast-track to success, quite a few good morris musicians have proceeded
on to world-wide folk fame.
The cunning plan
Given those disclaimers, this is the plan for 2001-02: Most of July through
the beginning of August are off due to the need for a break. Practice starts
back up again September 12 with Cotswold practice on Wednesdays. Due to
a need to increase our numbers, practice is open to beginners through the
rest of the season.
WE NEED APPRENTICE DANCERS AND MUSICIANS
Start learning in November
Start performing next Spring
Morris Dancing
is a traditional form of folk dancing from England, usually performed at
town festivals and outside of pubs by the working class. Morris dancers
wear festive costumes and ribbons and clash sticks or wave hankies in time
to traditional English country tunes.
British Sword Dancing
is a related ritual dance tradition, performed by 5-7 dancers linked in
a ring by dancing swords or staves. The dancers perform intricate figures
which form the swords into interesting shapes and topological puzzles.
Details:
No previous dance experience is necessary. Musicians who have not played
for live dancers are invited to come prepared to learn. People with Morris
dance or music experience:
what are you waiting for?
Morris practice is Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. We need people
who can attend regularly at these times from September through June. Performances
start in late April and can go into July; most occur on weekends.
Our sword team is currently on hiatus but if enough interest is garnered
we will start it back up!
But why?
``We do it all day, we do it all night, because it is a fertility rite!''
Preserve a beautiful tradition.
No one knows when or how Morris dancing started, but we enjoy its celebration
of the seasons. It rejoices especially in the return of fertility to the
earth in the Spring, and it is said that the money given to the Morris
dancers will bring good luck and fertility to the entire community. We
follow traditions taken from villages in the Cotswold area of England,
where they have performed for centuries. Morris dancing nearly died out
in the early part of this century, but a Morris revival led by folk dance
enthusiasts has led to the documentation of many Morris traditions and
dances. Seabright concentrates on traditions from the Cotswold villages
of Adderbury and Bledington.
Good exercise
Morris dancing is medieval aerobics. We stretch out and then spend an hour
and a half jumping up and down in time to music, flapping our arms and
lifting our legs. The difference between this and modern aerobics is that
the music is acoustic, live and English.
Meet great people!
Besides the dancing, Seabright is a team, working together toward the goals
of performing well while having fun. We also have parties and get together
with other Morris teams at events called ``Ales''. Most of us are musical
and enjoy singing and playing instruments together as well as dancing.
Besides, it's fun!
What could be more fun than dressing up, making a fool of yourself for
the pleasure of others (always with the defense that ``it's traditional''),
dancing both individually and as a team at the same time, and following
it all with beer (or ice cream) and good fellowship? |
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