Morris & Dance sides

JD & Folk are Jake, Dan and friends. Jake and Dan both learnt Appalachian dancing from Ira Bernstein and Sue Coe, particularly the improvised element of Appalachian flatfooting and have performed and taught this style to great reception from audiences around the country. When performing though their style takes on influences from Clog, Tap, French-Canadian and whatever their own imaginations throw up at the time. Over the past few years they have been lucky enough to build up a list of fantastic musicians and guest dancers allowing them to adapt to all situations thrown at them at festivals and to come up with fresh and fun ideas at short notice.

“Appalachian dancing’s Chas & Dave”- Rich Arrowsmith

Kickin’ Alice are a lively, entertaining group of Appalachian step dancers who perform with their band Kickophony. They provide a dynamic visual and sonic performance incorporating the percussive ‘root’ styles from the UK and Europe as well as the more modern American clogging styles. Kickophony play upbeat Old Time, Bluegrass and Folk music, and also perform at concerts without the dancers. With performers from Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and the West Midlands, Kickin’ Alice perform all over the UK at a variety of venues from dance, music, and street festivals to fetes, weddings, and parties.

The Knights of King Ina perform solo and duet morris jigs from the Cotswold Traditions, starting with the earliest known written notation of dance and music. We have constructed and adapted jigs in the style of these traditions, and some of our own traditions. We dance with some vigour (for the mostly over 50s) and feel this is how the morris is best performed.

We were formed in 2011 as a masterclass group offering workshops both for ourselves and for festivals. The dancers are from other teams from the South Coast to Herefordshire meeting regularly for practices.

Nonesuch Morris is a Bristol-based Cotswold morris team that performs dances in the styles of Raglan, Bucknell, and Sherborne. Our repertoire includes dances for two, three, four, five and six dancers which we aim to perform to a high standard while providing an entertaining show for any audience that displays Cotswold morris at its best.

Nonesuch Morris formed as a team in 2009 and is proud to be celebrating its 10th year at some of the best festivals in 2019.

Nonesuch (noun) 1. a person or thing without equal 2. Lychnis chalcedonica, The Flower of Bristol

Northgate Rapper are Bath’s finest (and only) male sword dancing team. Founded in 1991, they continue to ignore the magistrate’s rulings and perform high energy rapper dances in any pubs that will let them in. Over the last quarter of a century, they’ve performed at a huge number of festivals, including a three-year residency at the mighty Glastonbury Festival itself. To track them down, follow the trail of excited punters and broken lights, and expect unique dances, superlative swordsmanship and dynamic performances. Oh, and mild peril of course.

Old Speckled Hen are a mixed side based at Milton Heights near Abingdon and Didcot in Oxfordshire. They dance North West clog morris that originates from the industrial towns in Cheshire and Lancashire. Originating from a processional format, the dancing involves much stepping and the rhythm is accentuated by the wearing of clogs. Short sticks or sometimes slings are used to accentuate the movements of the dance. Their striking red, green, yellow and white costumes are inspired by the early-industrial period Rushcart ceremonies which took place in Wakes Weeks. Old Speckled Hen was started in 1992 and was named after one of the beers from the Morland Brewery in Abingdon.

When these two teams from Shropshire burst onto the morris dancing world in the mid 1970s, nobody knew what had hit them. They were the first to go round together as companion teams of men and women and the first to concentrate exclusively on the previously neglected dances from Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire – Border Morris. Both sides present radical and revolutionary interpretations of the original dances, along with a large dollop of repertoire specially concocted by team members.

These days you can see teams inspired by the Bedlams throughout the morris world, whereas only the most discerning have followed the lead of Martha Rhoden’s. Now in their 42^nd year they continue to put on a show full of sparkling originality and vitality.

“I am of Shropshire, my shinnes be sharp.”

We are Shropshire Sharpshins Rapper – the best rapper sword side in the county! Look out for our quick feet, sharp wit, and chequered sashes as we move swiftly through our county town, performing fast paced, intricate, and acrobatic dances. May our shins be ever sharp!

Whip the Cat Rapper & Clog are a lively women’s rapper team from Nottingham with a pleasing blend of youth and experience. They perform a number of exciting rapper dances, both traditional and of our own compilation, together with some lovely step clog routines. They are a regular folk festival side and proudly won the premier trophy at last year’s DERT (Dancing England Rapper Tournament), plus they came away with a host of other trophies! Kit: black shirts, black skirts and yellow sashes, with the odd bit of cat-print if you look closely!