https://squareandcompasspub.co.uk/what-s-on/1609
The very finest North West Morris team and Rapper team in the whole of Wareham.
The Buttons Ladies dance a style of Morris known as "North West" Morris. The term “Morris” is usually associated with the handkerchiefs, bells and mostly white costume of the Cotswold Morris. This is essentially Cecil Sharpe‘s fault; he concentrated his collecting efforts on the Cotswold style of dance. In truth, the term “Morris” was commonly used for a whole variety of traditional styles of display, not only styles of dance, including sword dance, but also the mummers‘ plays and similar.
One of these other styles of dance is that of the “North West Morris”, from Lancashire and north Cheshire, and. It has its origins in the industrial towns of the region. The dances involve much stepping, and the clogs add to the rhythm provided by the band, generally playing popular tunes from the 19th century. Bands can be quite large ; and for major events, it was quite normal for the town brass band to play for the morris. Although figures are still called out by the leader, current teams have adapted the dances, so that they can also be shown on the spot, without processing.
We do wear clogs and use mollies, sticks, handkerchiefs etc., depending on the dance. Our dances are more static now than processional -- we never like to stray too far from the pub.
Dorset Buttons Morris -- The Rapper Team
Rapper dancing is sword dancing. Not, of course, the effete style of sword dancing beloved of the Scots, in which they put the swords on the ground and prance around them at a safe distance. No; Englishmen keep firm hold of their swords -- and of their neighbour’s swords -- and dance linked togther by their swords. Indeed, it’s often said that it’s the swords that do the dancing. This “Hilt-and-point” style of sword dance was found all over Europe. The first definite reference in England is from 1715 but, as with all activities of the “folk”, little notice would have been taken of such things by Authority, and the tradition probably goes back a lot further.
There is no tradition of Rapper Sword in Dorset, apart from our own that is. As with the Ladies team we've borrowed our dance from the north of England. But we do wear clogs for our dance, and in that we are probably more traditional than most other Rapper teams. Clogs would have been the working footwear of the miners who did these dances. They would crtainly not have worn the soft tap-shoes favoured by most contemporary teams.
Links:
brmm.org.uk/DorsetButtonsMorris
facebook.com/dorset.buttons.3
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- Next Saturday, 9th August, 02:00 pm, Square Fayre - Afternoon Session w/ Alex Hedley, Kelp, Lost Revellers in Wareham
- Next Saturday, 9th August, 05:15 pm, Square Fayre- Evening Session w/ Fred Hills Trio, Gabriel Moreno, Town Of Cats in Wareham
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