Welcome to the Wessex Folk Festival pages The website for this Dorset based festival celebrating music, song and dance rooted in the traditions of the area.

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Dance

This year we're featuring a ceilidh, Morris, Appalachian, Scottish and Irish Set dance

Come back soon for all the latest additions and information

*Friday 6 June*
IRISH SET DANCE WORKSHOP and DANCE Do come along and gve this a try - it's not the high stepping Riverdance type Irish dance - it's a 4 couple sets in a small space equivalent of English barndance/ceilidh dancing. Experienced tutors and dancers will guide you through the figures and show you the basic steps and no, positively no, previous experience is required. All you need is a bit of rythym and a willingness to have a lot of fun! A great way to kick off your festival weekend. Just £3 or Free to Rover ticket holders and members of the Colyton or Shipton Gorge Set Dance clubs In the Sea Cadet Centre, Barrack Road - just off Hope Square No bar, so bring your own. Tea and coffee available
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*Saturday 7 June*
Festival Ceilidh with Captain Thunderbolt / LeDPiN Continuing the festival dance programme with the combined talents of members from both bands, a chance to shake the dust off your shoes, meet people and learn some dances too. Just £3 or Free to Rover ticket holders In the Sea Cadet Centre, Barrack Road - just off Hope Square No bar, so bring your own. Tea and coffee available
Dorset stalwarts Captain Thunderbolt Barndance Band joined by members of LeDPiN, will host the ceilidh and play music for dancers to dance to. Starting as an electric punk folk CT has developed into an acoustic English ceilidh outfit without losing an innovative style. Old and new tunes from a range of countries would be approved of by Thomas Hardye , the Pogues and Peeping Tom. CT has featured a jug, two harmonicas, a solo guitar and mouth music but mainly work out with melodeon, English concertina, mandolin and guitar. Expect old and new dances, mostly English in style and perhaps some guest musicians. Prepare to enjoy yourselves.........
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Weekend Dance Displays The list so far, but be sure to come back soon and check out who else you'll be able to see dancing in the streets.......
*Saturday 7 June*	*Sunday 8 June*
Frome Valley Morris (Cotswold)	Frome Valley Morris (Cotswold)
Yateley Morris Men (Cotswold)	Yateley Morris Men (Cotswold)
Fleur de Lys (Cotswold, Stave and a little Border!)	Fleur de Lys (Cotswold, Stave and a little Border!))
Taunton Deane (Cotswold)	Dorset Buttons (North West)
Wickham Morris (Cotswold)	Wickham Morris (Cotswold)
Red Stag Morris	Bushbeaters and Boghoppers (North West)
Mayflower Morris (North West)	Stampede (Appalachian)
Pigsty Morris (Cotswold)	No Mean Feet (Appalachian)
Fleet Morris (Cotswold)	Beetlecrushers
Wessex Morris (Cotswold)
Beetlecrushers
Festus Derriman (Cotswold)
Priston Jubilee Morris (Cotswold)
Weymouth Scottish Country Dancers Want to join in the fun? See below
Alton Morris ( Border)

Dance sites this year will be - Town Bridge (at the start of Trinity Road) The Old Pump (outside the Old Rooms Inn) King's Arms (Trinity Road) Old Maypole Site (by the HSBC bank) When the full programme is agreed, we'll publish details here to let you know who's dancing when and where..
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Scottish Country Dancing
Do you want to learn Scottish country dancing or improve your skills? It's great fun and a friendly group are waiting to welcome you. They meet every Thursday evening from 7.30 pm to 9.45 pm at Wyke Regis Infants School in Shrubbery Lane. All you'll need is a pair of soft shoes and £2. Contact Judie for more info. on 01305 8336600 or e-mail Daphne on daf.n.al@hotmail.co.uk

Meet the Morris Sides and Dance Teams
Yateley Morris Men	Yateley Morris Men were founded in 1975 in the village of Yateley on the Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey border. They are an all male side and dance Cotswold Morris. Watch out for their Horse.......! Back to top of page
Fleur De Lys	Fleur de Lys hail from Godalming, Surrey. The side was formed in 1976 and perform a diverse repertoire of styles including traditional Cotswold, lively Border as well as the more unusual Stave dances. These are based on Victorian processions, but not many were written down so several new dances have been choreographed by members of the side. The vivid purple and gold kit and fleur de lys emblem represent the flag iris that grows beside the local river Wey. If the weather is hot the girls might be spotted having a paddle in the sea after a hard day of dancing. Back to top of page
Pigsty Morris	Pigsty Morris are based in central Bristol, and named after Pigsty Hill, where we meet to practice each week.We are a mixed side and dance mostly Cotswold Morris. Back to top of page
Fleet Morris	Fleet Morris is, surprisingly, from Fleet (world famous for its pond and M3 services) in Northern Hampshire. They are a Cotswold side formed in 1984. Their dances, based on the Adderbury, Bampton, Ducklington Fieldtown and Lichfield traditions, have evolved with a little help in the past from Roy Dommett. They enjoy visits to the sea as shown by the photograph of the side by their beach hut at Swanage Folk Festival in September 2007. Back to top of page
Dorset Buttons	The Ladies Morris dance side was formed in 1978, so they are celebrating their 30th birthday this year. They dance North-West Morris and wear the wooden clogs that were worn by most working people in the 19th century. The name comes from the hand-made buttons that were made in Dorset until the 1850s when the introduction of button making machines led to the collapse of the industry. Their colourful costume and vibrant dancing have become well-known. The Buttons dance at various folk festivals and other events including both Wareham’s twin towns – Conches-en-Ouches in France and Hemsbach in Germany, as well as in Virginia, USA. The men’s Rapper Sword Dance Team was formed in 1991 and perform dances based on those from the mining villages in North-East England. The intricate weaving swords and accompanying characters of ‘Tommy’ and ‘Betsy’ are a spectacle not to be missed. Back to top of page
Red Stags	Red Stags Morris is the oldest morris side in Southampton - looking forward to celebrating its 40th Anniversary next year. The side was formed in the autumn of 1968, when some students at Southampton University asked one of their lecturers to teach them the morris, and first danced out early the following year. Over the years style, traditions danced, instruments played, kit and most of the members have changed a number of times. However, Red Stags has always maintained the tradition of being a teaching side, of both individuals and large groups. It has also been responsible for spawning many offshoots all over the country and many sides across the world have adopted our dances. The current side dances a low-key style of Border Morris, specialising in dances for small numbers of dancers. Some of the dances are traditional, others are based on research and interpretation of old manuscripts, the remaining ones are penned and adapted by various members of the side. Music is provided variously by recorder, violin, percussion and voice. Red Stags Morris practises at Swaythling Methodist Church, Burgess Road on most Thursdays and new dancers or musicians are always welcomes - previous experience not necessary. Contact bagpuss@redstags.org or Christina on 023 8058 3018 for information on practices or for booking the side. Back to top of page
Alton Morris	Alton Morris are a mixed Border side based in Alton in Hampshire. They have been around since 1991 and have done tours in Italy , Ireland and France as well as attending many different festivals across England. Back to top of page


Frome Valley Morris Back to top of page	No Mean Feet	Stampede

Site last updated 5 June, 2008

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