Tag: Morris dancers

We got invited by a friend to join her and her boyfriend in the Cotswolds. I’ve been there before and stayed in the same wonderful apartment so I was very willing to return again. We were going to join them at the apartment but at the last minute she wrote to join them to watch some Morris dancers at a pub. I’ve never seen any before, and I’m not sure I’ve even heard of them. They are a group with ancient beginnings doing dances that are based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures, usually wearing bell pads on their shins. The group we saw used scarves in some dances, sticks in others. They were all older men, most with long grey hair and beards and one man said he had been doing it for over 50 years. It looked like a fun man’s club. Afterwards they played a bit of music and sang.

Tradition costumes with scarves. Some of the dances were based on historical events.

This guy was having a good time.

Two of the musicians. The tattered coat has some meaning too.

A “horse” came out at one point too.

I like to try ploughman’s platters at various pubs. This one was pretty good.