Dance Teams Rushbearing 2003

Visiting dance teams at the 2003 Rushbearing

Wolf’s Head & Vixens

Wolf’s Head Morris was formed in 1995 and first danced out in 1996 as a men only side. Later that year the women’s side, Vixen, was formed. The side celebrated it’s 5th year of existence in September 2000 with a weekend of dance in Rochester. Both sides are based in the Medway Towns (Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham) in North Kent and dance Border style Morris but there are differences in their approach to the creation and performance of the dances.

The first noticeable thing about Wolf’s Head & Vixen, particularly when compared to other Morris sides, is the total lack of colour in the kit. The mens kit is fairly traditional and dates to the 17th and 18th Centuries. The womens kit is totally untraditional unless you are studying the Goth music culture of the mid-1980’s!

Pecsaetan Morris

A recently formed, all-female side based in Sheffield, Pecsaetan dance in the cotswold style. They are very impressive, both technically and aesthetically.

Stone Monkey Rapper

Formed around 1990/91, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers specialise in the Rapper Sword Dance. Although they do not perform a “traditional” dance from one of the original pit villages, they have taken the spirit and energy of the rapper dance, and put together their own set of figures, many of which are their own invention.

Based in Long Eaton, between Nottingham and Derby, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers have strong links with the rapper tradition. Several members of the team were born and brought up in the North East and others have spent many years there. Members of the team have danced with other rapper sides, such as Black Cap, Keele, Leeds Sadler, Newcastle Kingsmen, Sallyport and High Spen Blue Diamonds. The distinctive Stone Monkey style has developed from a fusion (don’t you just hate that word?) of these many and varied influences.

Wakefield Morris

Wakefield Morris are a mixed side comprising dancers from two older teams, The Horberie Shrogys and Ring O’Belles.

For some years the two teams danced as two separate entities, although a mixed set would form part of the regular display. But as time went by the numbers of men in the side reduced and the appearance of a Shrogys side became a rarity. The team’s appearances now featured a mixed side more and more, with the occasional display dance by the “Ring O’Belles”. The mixed side had taken on the rather prosaic title of “Wakefield Morris Dancers” and this is the name that has stayed.

The team has now been together for over twenty two years and includes in the present side some who have danced through the majority of the teams history. Highlights in the history have been tours to France and Germany, regular appearances at folk festivals throughout Britain such as Whitby, Sidmouth, Warwick, Holmfirth and Cleethorpes.

Our Local Dance Teams & Performers

Ryburn Long Sword

Another local team, they formed in 1994 first danced at Rushbearing in 1995.

They perform traditional Yorkshire longsword dances. Evidence suggests that similar dances were being performed only a few miles from Ripponden in the 18th and 19th century.

Both the tall and short teams (their description) have been going for eight years now and in that short time have established quite a reputation amongst the sword dance fraternity who gave the teams a standing ovation at their evening performance at The International Sword Spectacular 1998 in Whitby.

Rams Head Morris

The most recently formed of our local sides, their colourful costume consists black and white tattered jackets feathered hats and masks.

They perform a number of dances in the style of those associated with the Welsh borders and recently won the Gordon Crowther award at the Scarborough Morris Festival

The most recent addition is the junior team, Lambs Head Morris who perform their own dances.

Bradshaw Mummers

Now, much to their astonishment, in their 31st year, the Bradshaw Mummers were formed as a one-off entertainment for the now defunct Bradshaw Tavern Folk Club New Years’ Eve party in 1972.

Since no one could think of an excuse to stop, they became a permanent side and have since inflicted themselves not just on Sowerby Bridge but the rest of the country as well including Chester. Middlewich, Beverley, Warwick, Bromyard, Clitheroe and anywhere else brave enough to book a team with its own resident pyromaniac.

Those of a nervous disposition or lovers of serious acting are advised to look away now!