Morris dancing on the Southbank (Part 1)
Photos of a Morris gathering on London's Southbank
(Photos ©urban75, 4th September 2010)
I've always had a bit of a spot spot for the much-derided Morris dancers, probably because I can relate to their penchant for drinking loads of ale, dancing around in a shouty manner and waving their hands in the air.
Billed as a weekend full of 'music, dance, art installations and more special events challenging the current image of the Morris dancer in popular English culture,' I went along to check out some of the moves on London's Southbank, camera in hand.
On the bill were 100 of England's best morris dancers including the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris from Nottingham, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly in one of the largest gatherings of Morris dancers in London.
Hammersmith Morris Men in full-on stick-clattering action.
There was a good crowd for the Morris dancing.
This dance involved a woman volunteer from the audience getting a load of Morrismen getting, well, a little bit jiggy with her.
Oooh, I say!
I love the reaction from her friends!
By the fire.
"The next dance will be over there!"
Watching the action.
Having a rest before the next dance.
Apparently 'dancing and developing the East Anglian Molly tradition', Gog Magog Molly looked more like a bunch of trance fans heading off to Return to Samsara!
The tradition-challenging Boggart's Breakfast, a mixed (men and women) border morris team based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Introducing the next dancers. With a tickle stick.
Who says Morris dancing can't be sexy?!
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