Team calendar
| Events | Repertoire | History | Home | 2008 |
Moor
and Coast
Holmfirth Festival and ShepleyFestival
Evesham Medieval Festival and Jack'O'Mitre
eve
Minster Strays
Ripon Weekend and Hunsworth
Argameles
and Britannia Coconut Dancers
Queens
Oak weekend and
two evenings out
Persephone at Whittlesea
Straw Bear 2007 (Cambridgeshire)
The first arrivals
at Straw Bear found the cosy Perse room at Community College and set up on Friday
evening. Hopefully the catering facilities will be sorted out for next year.
A convivial evening was had, first in the Bricklayers Arms, meeting friends,
new and old and later in the security caravan at the school.
Saturday began with being bussed to the Procession meeting place. We processed
to Market Street for the first dance spot. After lunch dancing was on the new
patio at the Bricklayers Arms and then at the New Crown. After dancing we entered
a crowded pub and tried to find room for an Irish set. In the evening, after
cooking tea and changing Perse went to different pubs. Some ended up at the
Railway, where there was an Irish session, and Southport Sword. They persuades
us to dance the tongue in cheek ‘Feather Duster Dance’ A little
more socialising before bed. In the morning cars were packed and then the dance
displays in the school hall. We danced three well-received dances before driving
home from another enjoyable Straw Bear.
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A
feature of the morris in the fenlands is the style called Molly and the
picture shows the variation in dress (kit) and would have been a village
social dance |
| A bonding weekend was undertaken and intrepid team members visited the Centre Parks facility near Penrith. This coincided with Burns Night so here is Paddy reading the Bard. Walks and bicycle rides were undertaken, whilst in the evening they did their best to ensure that they filled the bottle bank with empties. |  |
Moor and Coast Festival, Whitby 4th- 7th May
The
new dance season kicked off at Whitby, with two days dancing in the town itself.
This was quite a shock to the system, particularly as there wasn’t a huge
number of teams to share the load. However, a good time was had by all and the
weather was very kind to us – windy but reasonable warm. Those who stayed
managed to find The Little Angel in staggering distance of the cottage where
there was plenty of music and a little dancing.
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Holmfirth Festival of Folk – 12th May
This local event brought
out a good number of the team, but as usual at this venue it RAINED!!! There
was a large number of teams filling the town with colour and noise. After dancing
in sunshine all day, the heavens opened as we prepared for the procession, and
was on and off (but mostly on) as we waited for our display dance at the end.
Thoroughly wet, 12 of us performed Hindley Street – but at least we managed
to stop the rain!
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Shepley Spring Festival – 19th – 20th May
Well – if you really want to camp on a level with the Emley Moor transmitter, you’re probably asking for trouble! Those of who did, spent a fun afternoon battling with a force 8 gale trying to hold on to bits of canvas, but after 2½ hours were victorious. The gale continued through the night, with the addition of squally rain, a very nearby generator and a bright floodlight.
However, Saturday dawned
fairer and brought reinforcements to dance at various spots; all was well until
after lunch when we experienced more weather – torrential downpours. The
procession was cancelled and we squelched back to the festival site to dance
in a large marquee. On Sunday the weather was great, and allowed us to better
appreciate the festival; the site was well organised with lots of events and
food and drink stalls. The day ended with us dancing Hindley Street (again!)
for 12 dancers, but also dancing head to head with Horwich Prize Medal team,
from whom we learned the dance originally.
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Evesham Medieval and Morris Festival – 2nd – 3rd June
Not only Medieval and Morris, but Asparagus too – the local delicacy which had just been harvested. An intrepid 7 dancers and 1 musician made the journey south to the Cotswolds in glorious weather, which lasted the whole weekend. Friday evening was spent at a hostelry near the splendid campsite (commercial, with outdoor heated pool) with our friendly hosts.
On Saturday and Sunday we met in Evesham town centre dancing mostly in the market square; on Sunday there were stalls surrounding this especially for the event. We were also entertained by a juggler and fire-eater. Each day there were 4 teams dancing – just the right number to give well deserved rests in the heat.
Saturday evening saw us at an ancient pub where, to celebrate the asparagus harvest, a local jazz/big band were playing in a marquee. We rounded off the evening in time honoured fashion with singing and dancing
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Jack O’Mitre, Outlane, Huddersfield, 5th June
An evening out in the hills with our invited guests Stockport Morris and Slubbing Billys in the first of our Tuesday night dance-outs. We had a large number of dancers (Bill from Stockport didn’t know we had such a big team!) Despite the height, no-one seemed to suffer from altitude sickness, but once the sun had set in fine style, it was quite chilly. A convivial evening was had, finishing up inside the pub of course (more singing & music). The landlord appeared quite taken with the event, and was seen at one point holding up his mobile phone to let someone hear the music in progress!
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Minster Strays Day of Dance, June 9th, N.E.York
From an 10.30 start with a procession in the village we joined 10 other teams in the sunny vale of York. A trip to Castle Howard was the main event of the afternoon. Lunch was picnic style before the dancing started. With several dance spots available the teams were rotated, wirh some free time to allow us to look round the castle and grounds. The whole gang were transported to Old Malton for informal pub style dancing at either the Wentworth Arms or the Royal Oak. The sun shone, the company was good, as was the whole day. Well done to Minster Strays!
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Ripon Weekend of Dance
This week's tent
erecting experience was in pouring rain in semi-darkness, but not before several
cars had encountered floods on the way and been diverted along the byways of
North Yorkshire. Undaunted, Persephone braved the elements, whilst other (softer)
teams slept in the fine village hall in Bishop Monkton. At least there was plenty
of good company and drink and food provided by our kindly hosts.
Saturday dawned damp, but brightened up for a day of dancing in the centre of
Ripon with four other good teams. The bells at the Minster were rather loud,
but the musicians played on regardless. Unfortunately the trip to Fountains
Abbey was cancelled because of major flooding, but somehow we had a completely
dry day in Ripon. This was followed by a DIY ceilidh, with a super scratch band
and several highly entertaining floor spots, including "YMCA" danced
as a north west set by Anstey Royale Chalfont in great costumes plus clogs.
Oh, and more drink and food.
Sunday was brighter again and we spent the day in Masham, finishing up at the
White Bear (drink and food!), where each team performed several dances. A great
weekend!
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Evening dance out at our local pub - The Savile Arms, Hunsworth,South of Leeds
We were fortunate
with the weather while we were dancing and with our other friends Spen Valley
Sword and Wakefield Morris.
We were able to
turn out double sets for three of our most performed dances i.e. Waltons Parade,
Hindley Street, and Pipers Ash using a lot of the pub car park.
All retired to the pub where, with welcome refreshments from the management, all were involved in singing and playing songs and tunes. Entertainment was provided also by the weather, there being a thunderstorm, lightning and torrential rain! Luckily this cleared in time for a dry departure.
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Argameles Weekend and a day with Britannia Coconut Dancers
From a fine start on Friday eve people gradually collected at the Scots Piper, some staying outside and some crowding into the pub for the music, chat and sandwiches, (many, many sandwiches!).The weather on Saturday, however, commanded respect, with dancing between the showers in and around Southport town and environs. Argameles did well to find some covered areas and the Wellington pub kindly allowed us to dance inside.
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Saturday eve in Lydiate saw all the brave enjoying the ceilidh. Even Mally danced as there didn't appeare to be any music at the pub.
Sunday was no better with the weather but the intrepid few packed up and trecked across Lancashire to Bacup, where the Britannia Coconut Dancers were waiting to greet us with the showers,thunder and occasional torrential rain, (some of which we danced through!) we thought we had left near Southport.
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An evening at the "Brown Cow" Bingley with Oakworth Morris
Whilst the rains were threatening and by a swollen river, an intrepid Oakworth side were outnumbered by the hostesses who managed to field two sets in the large car park. The pub was very welcoming and the evening concluded with a session upstairs. A set dance attempted caused concern from the quiz people below as they saw the ceiling flex above them.
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Another evening - this time with Great Yorkshire Morris at "New Inn" East Bierley
Just the five teams then but a pleasant evening with Great Yorkshire the hosts and providing their sumptuous salmon supper to us and Rainbow Morris, Inclognito and Spen Valley Sword.
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A weekend with "Queens Oak" and "Rose and Castle"
After several outings with Rose (our squire) looking at the weather vane, the weekend proved to be glorious and pleasant. We were royally served by the two host sides. We danced in the town centre at Northhampton and thence to pubs in various villages quite far from base.
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Sunday saw the dismantling of tents and thence to Stoke Bruerne on the Grand Union canal where apart from some excellent dancing we were treated to an underwater recovery display by Southport sword who thought that their swords might float !
An evening trip on a narrow boat
Aug 7th saw us assemble in Sowerby Bridge prior to a trip on the Calder and Hebble canal to Salter and Hebble Lock. We danced at the "Moorings" and then travelled in two cruise boats to The Waterfront pub near Halifax.
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Whilst dancing was accomplished the mood of the evening is summed up in the grins of the travellers in the middle picture