Morris Dancing - Like to try it out?
Should you seek some lively exercise or feel the urge to be doing something really different while exercising and entertaining others with your dance or musical talent do consider joining Charlbury Morris. We are always looking for interested individuals from the local community (our dancers come from Finstock, Witney, Chipping Norton, Oxford as well as from Charlbury itself).
If you ever wondered if Morris Dancing is for you, please come along to one of our practice sessions (see website for times and locations or catch up with us at one of our events.
Formed in 1984, Charlbury Morris revived local participation in the ancient tradition of Morris dancing in Charlbury and the Cotswold villages of Leafield, Finstock and Minster Lovell--commonly known as the Fieldtown area.
Our side is made up of six or more sprightly dancers, several versatile musicians and a merry fool! We dance various local dance traditions from Fieldtown, Ascott, Hinton, Bampton and Adderbury -taking the dance steps and music from historical sources.
'Charlbury' are well known as a 'fun side'. We keep to the old dance traditions, and sometimes create our own, but always with healthy injections of fun and the occasional, equally ancient, beverage to cool our exertions! Jangling bells, wild waving hankies, whirling sticks and wild whooping are common elements of our dance. A new departure for us is singing including sea shanties; you might have seen us perform at Street Fair last year.
Our Summer dance season is from May to September. Winter activities include Barn Dances, Pub evenings and Morris Ales (gatherings of Morris sides). Practice sessions are held in Finstock Village Hall on most Friday evenings at 8:00pm from October through April. Check our website for exact dates. Newcomers are most certainly welcome to drop by.
Our all-male Cotswold Morris side invites you to free Morris dancing lessons. The two-hour session starts at 8pm and suits men of all physical abilities. Help our side keep this artistic tradition alive. As a side we get to attend many fun and interesting events during the summer season. During the winter, music and dance practice can be an enjoyable social experience. As in the old days, we learn and respect the ancient traditions of the Morris, but we try not to take ourselves too seriously. Come along, learn the dance steps, figures and music and take it to the next level.
For more information call Peter (the bagman) on 01608 811007 or visit our website.
come_and_join_us.pdf