The lords of the dance

This group of Morris Dancers were entertaining the early shoppers in the west end of the city centre, where most of the small, individual, specialist shops are clustered.

Click Here to visit The Plymouth Morris Men website

Dancing in the New Year

These local Morris Dancers welcomed in the New Year

 with a lively performance in the street outside the Dolphin,

  one of the well loved pubs on the Barbican.

Only these hardy smokers watched at close quarters, from the pub door ,

but across the street a large, appreciative crowd gathered, ignoring the rain.

Dance like it matters!

That's the motto of the Wreckers Border Morris Dancers.
Click to see them in action 

They are from the Tamar Valley where the river forms 

the border between Cornwall and England, hence their name.

This is one of the most energetic and loud dance groups you will ever see.

The Lords of the Dance

The Border Wreckers Morris Dance Group kept the crowds at Saltash Regatta

tapping their feet and clapping along with their exuberant dance style.

 Click to visit their website

Rio may have Sun, Samba and Sensuality but .....

although we have more than our fair share of grey skies and drizzling rain,
we are certainly familiar with dancing in the streets!

Welcome to the world of Morris Dancing.

It is difficult to imagine any other group of men who, 

1. wear a distinctive uniform, 

2. arm themselves with stout wooden staves, 

and

3. openly engage combat practice, 

being allowed to roam freely through the city streets. 

Morris Dancing attracts young and old alike.

It is refreshing to see that members are clearly not overly concerned the issues of body image that beset many forms of dance performance.

It has something for everyone. 

Unless, of course, you are a woman or member of an ethnic minority.

But it is encouraging, from an Equal Opportunities point of view, to note that cross dressers are welcomed into the fold.

New Year's Day 2012

Here's another way to welcome the New Year. 

These traditional Morris Dancers braved the wind and rain to dance in the street on the Barbican. 

Mind you they didn't venture too far from the warmth of The Dolphin Hotel,one of Plymouth's best known pubs, immortalised in the wonderful paintings of local artist, Beryl Cook.