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Author Topic: Morris!  (Read 43260 times)

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Keithypete.

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #80 on: October 09, 2009, 01:19:55 AM »

Having danced with or watched many sides over the last forty years and having played for a few since I became an aspiring musician about ten years ago (I am still aspiring!), I came to the conclusion that Cotswold (and other types of morris) looks best when danced by good dancers who have taken the trouble to get the little things right as well as the big things and who dance with energy and evident enjoyment. It doesn't matter whether they are male only, female only or mixed. Good dancing is good dancing and, when done well, it looks fantastic.

Having been diagnosed with swine flu this morning, I shall now lie back in my sick bed and feel sorry for myself....or cheer myself up reading some more postings on melodeon.net.  ;D



 Sorry to hear you've succumbed to a (sn)outbreak of swine-flu. I whole-heartedly agree with your comments. I've always enjoyed watching Crook do Ilmington. Re-Sherborne stepping: Love it, however the galleys are more of a bugger than the stepping - always trying to kick one's self in the 'town halls'.
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Owen Woods

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #81 on: October 09, 2009, 01:25:27 AM »

Yeah, it is certainly not a newbie tradition! It's not too complecated, like normal stepping but its RHLR rather than RLRH. I think the fact that it is so similar makes it all the more confusing! Btw, we're also concentrating on Adderbury.

Good good, I like Adderbury.
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Re: Morris!
« Reply #82 on: October 09, 2009, 12:31:06 PM »

Quote
When it comes to the dancing, though, it just doesn't do for me what Cotswold does, especially Bledington and Fieldtown (which also have the best tunes).

Have you not done Sherborne then, by far the best dances and tunes!


I seem to remember, back in the days when I used to go to Sidmouth every year for the whole week or longer, and used to get up for the 9am morris workshops up at the Bowd,  that I did one on Sherbourne. Since than I've never done it, or as far as I can remember,even come across anyone else doing it.
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Pauline from Cornwall

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joe

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #83 on: October 09, 2009, 12:51:33 PM »

I dance & play with a masked Border side (Mythago - hence my profile pic!), and although I personally have always preferred Border, I think both are fantastic when danced well, it's just Cotswold has never set my world on fire!

I have to say I love the idea of border, but the border sides I have seen recently (cant remember the names, probably for the best), have been a bit disappointing, drab dances with half hearted whoops thrown in to show they are 'crazy'! Its as bad as the Cotswold wheezing old men teams.
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Keithypete.

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #84 on: October 09, 2009, 02:49:59 PM »

A ring side I danced with for a couple of seasons did Bampton-in-the-Bush in the summer, and two stick dances from Ascott, then border in the winter. Every year. Good at what they did but not enough variety for me.
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Chris Ryall

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #85 on: October 09, 2009, 06:31:51 PM »

I have to say I love the idea of border, but the border sides I have seen recently (cant remember the names, probably for the best), have been a bit disappointing, drab dances with half hearted whoops thrown in to show they are 'crazy'! Its as bad as the Cotswold wheezing old men teams.

Seen it all before ... when I was a lad .. these young people don't understand  :-X

Seriously. Folk music goes in cycles. There was a surge in the 1890s - somewhat nationalistic as was all Europe at the time. Next one was a biggie in the 1920's following on the patient work of Cecil Sharpe and co on morris (and songs) and people like Vaughan-Williams making it respectable. A couple of wars in between of course. The most recent revival started in the 50's and really surged in the 60's as Brits involved in the USA craze looked for their own roots. Read up on "Radio Ballads".  As a spotted youth myself in 1969 I could go to 8 folk clubsa week in the small market town of Darlington.

In essence the Young won't have much to do with parent's culture as that is definitely .

But Grandad ;) that's a different matter altogether! And the nearer he is to his Maker the better. I see loads of old 60's farts (it's me next) hobbling around festivals on sticks. Grey hair and shining bald patches abound. My local best folk clubs has recent surpassed a hearing aid index of 50%.

I suspect the next 'Folk Revival' isn't far off,  and IMHO those "Cotswold wheezing old men teams" are a very favourable sign.  :|glug
« Last Edit: October 09, 2009, 06:37:23 PM by chrisryall »
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Martin Duffy

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #86 on: October 09, 2009, 07:45:43 PM »

I have to say I love the idea of border, but the border sides I have seen recently (cant remember the names, probably for the best), have been a bit disappointing, drab dances with half hearted whoops thrown in to show they are 'crazy'! Its as bad as the Cotswold wheezing old men teams.

Likewise, I have seen some pretty awful border sides - I don't think any style of dance has the monopoly in that respect!  I think the problem arises in border when the costumes & image become more important than the music & the dance.
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Ollie

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #87 on: October 09, 2009, 08:52:12 PM »

I have to say I love the idea of border, but the border sides I have seen recently (cant remember the names, probably for the best), have been a bit disappointing, drab dances with half hearted whoops thrown in to show they are 'crazy'! Its as bad as the Cotswold wheezing old men teams.

Likewise, I have seen some pretty awful border sides - I don't think any style of dance has the monopoly in that respect!  I think the problem arises in border when the costumes & image become more important than the music & the dance.

Well said, I can't stand costume based Border sides. It just disguises the fact that what they're doing is rubbish!
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IanD

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #88 on: October 10, 2009, 11:21:46 AM »

I have to say I love the idea of border, but the border sides I have seen recently (cant remember the names, probably for the best), have been a bit disappointing, drab dances with half hearted whoops thrown in to show they are 'crazy'! Its as bad as the Cotswold wheezing old men teams.

Likewise, I have seen some pretty awful border sides - I don't think any style of dance has the monopoly in that respect!  I think the problem arises in border when the costumes & image become more important than the music & the dance.

Well said, I can't stand costume based Border sides. It just disguises the fact that what they're doing is rubbish!

Hurtt's law : the quality of dancing of a morris team is inversely proportional to the effort they put into their kit.

Ian
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Rob2Hook

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #89 on: October 10, 2009, 12:18:57 PM »

Definitely not a Ring supporter myself, I have been in a mixed NW side for many years now.  But, unless done outstandingly well Border really shouldn't be danced by women.  I know it's entirely unfair, but women making whooping noises just sound like kittens, not a menacing morris person...  Perhaps it would be more menacing in silence?
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Steve_freereeder

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #90 on: October 10, 2009, 01:25:40 PM »

I'm disappointed to read these posts about Border Morris being rubbish and costume-led, etc.
One of my favourite sides is Boggart's Breakfast; one of the musicians is a contributor to this forum.

As far as I am concerned, BB are really good - tight dancing, imaginative choreography, great music... all that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSvXe3kGG2g

If Border Morris isn't your thing, that's fine. But don't go slagging it off as rubbish, please. It doesn't do your credibility any favours.
But then, what do I know? I'm only a Sheffield-based melodeon player who's been playing for dancing for 20 years.
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IanD

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #91 on: October 10, 2009, 01:32:39 PM »

I'm disappointed to read these posts about Border Morris being rubbish and costume-led, etc.
One of my favourite sides is Boggart's Breakfast; one of the musicians is a contributor to this forum.

As far as I am concerned, BB are really good - tight dancing, imaginative choreography, great music... all that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSvXe3kGG2g

If Border Morris isn't your thing, that's fine. But don't go slagging it off as rubbish, please. It doesn't do your credibility any favours.
But then, what do I know? I'm only a Sheffield-based melodeon player who's been playing for dancing for 20 years.

I agree 100% about BB -- but IMHO they're in a small minority of good Border teams who actually *dance*, as opposed to running about whooping.

Border unfortunately seems to suffer from a higher proportion of "costume-led non-dancing" teams than any other style of Morris, and this is what is being referred to.

If you're a team like BB who suffers from being tarred with the same brush, then you can at least console yourselves that some people -- even hardened Cotswoldophiles like me -- can spot the difference.

Ian
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IanD

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #92 on: October 10, 2009, 01:35:52 PM »

Definitely not a Ring supporter myself, I have been in a mixed NW side for many years now.  But, unless done outstandingly well Border really shouldn't be danced by women.  I know it's entirely unfair, but women making whooping noises just sound like kittens, not a menacing morris person...  Perhaps it would be more menacing in silence?

Correction -- unless done outstandingly well Border really shouldn't be danced by men *or* women ;-)

Ian
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Selam

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #93 on: October 10, 2009, 02:01:43 PM »

As I've only been to one practice so far, I'm not sure how much my opinion is worth in this group discussion. I just know that I loved Border the second I started dancing it. A similar "eureka" moment to the first second I started playing my squeezebox.

As for the men only/women only/mixed arguments, I guess I'm too new to it all to see the issue...  What's so different about the way women & men dance it? Sorry - real newbie question probably!  :( I'd certainly be distraught if I couldn't dance... And I'll practise whooping so I don't sound so much like a kitten. Meeeewwww!!  ;D
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ganderbox

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #94 on: October 10, 2009, 02:26:05 PM »


Correction -- unless done outstandingly well Border really shouldn't be danced by men *or* women ;-)

Ian

Correct. And men can be just as woossy as women when it comes to shouting and sceaming (which if it can't be done convincingly, shouldn't be done at all).

If anyone thinks women shouldn't dance border, you might like to take a look at Beltane, a mixed side from east Devon. I think you might change your mind. Certainly, even if you don't, you would be well advised not to express that opinion in their vicinity!

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Pauline from Cornwall

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xgx

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #95 on: October 10, 2009, 02:35:33 PM »

... "eureka" moment .....

enjoy!!!!! :|||: :M

Quote
As for the men only/women only/mixed arguments (...) What's so different about the way women & men dance it?

clenched fists.... women have a net problem (not enough testosterone) ...
(never seen Beltane dance but I've always said I'd rather fight 10 men than one woman ;D)

make your own mind up about 40 something women dancing Cotswold in knee breeks (or are they jodhpurs  :-X)
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Graham

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ganderbox

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #96 on: October 10, 2009, 02:40:13 PM »


make your own mind up about 40 something women dancing Cotswold in knee breeks (or are they jodhpurs  :-X)

That's a big side! ;D

Actually, fortysomething is quite young for morris dancers these days...........



« Last Edit: October 10, 2009, 02:54:07 PM by ganderbox »
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Pauline from Cornwall

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xgx

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #97 on: October 10, 2009, 02:50:21 PM »


That's a big side! ;D


 :-X

(every time I see your posts I also see the view from your 'backyard'  ;))
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Graham

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ganderbox

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #98 on: October 10, 2009, 02:59:01 PM »

I can see it right now...the sun is shining and it's lovely ! :D

Much too nice to be sitting at this computer talking about morris dancing, when there's grass to cut!!
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Pauline from Cornwall

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Martin Duffy

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Re: Morris!
« Reply #99 on: October 10, 2009, 03:32:39 PM »

As a costumed border dancer who dances with a mixed side (Mythago), I have to say there are good & bad costumed sides, and to those who think women can't whoop & scream like the best of them, then you haven't met our lot - they can be quite deafening!
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