The Morris Ring

The Morris Ring founded in 1934, is an association of over two hundred morris dance sides. Our mission is to encourage the performance of morris dancing, to maintain its traditions and to preserve its history. Each year we organise several Ring Meetings for our members. See the 2008 meetings programme here.

The Morris Ring Google Group: Please Read: Instructions and Netiquette.

The Morris Tradition: describes the background story for Morris Dancing in English, French, German, Dutch & Spanish, and the English text booklet is for sale from the Morris Ring Shop.

TO FIND a Local Morris Side use
the SideFinder Click Map. MORRIS MEN to update your Sidefinder Entry, Click Here!
ENQUIRIES TO the Morris Ring Click Here!
TO FIND a Named Morris Side use MMD.
TO BUY MORRIS ITEMS goto
The Morris Ring Shop. Just ask !

Mainly Morris Ring News

The Travelling Morrice 136^th Tour (Lancashire/Yorkshire & Cumbria), starts next Monday (28^th July) at Crook O'Lune Bridge, (near Caton, Lancaster). Details of the full agenda are here.

The latest Bagman's Newsletter, No 57, June 2008, is now available on line. Charlie will (of course!), send out paper copies

See Sidmouth and don't forget the John Gasson Jig competition, Tracey Rose gives us the details and an application form here, this year on Sunday 3^rd August, be there!

Morris Dancing and Swords: Quite a lot of hot air has been blowing around this subject. Kate Hoey has helped to clify the situation, see the Independent newspaper comment for 18th June 2008 I like the Urban Morris Dancer, it looks as if our image is a-changing.
Previous to this notice Paul Reece (Thge Morris Ring Squire) said:"We must counter the notion that the Act, which is already law concerns all swords and by their use in sword dancing is likely to be banned. The Act which is designed against 'Sumarai' and look alike swords is only concerned with curved swords over 50 cms measured in a straight line from the tip to the hilt. Consequently very few sides fall into this category. The Joint Morris Organisation are assessing the size of the problem, but it is considered to be very very small. I only know of two sides that use curved sides, Plymouth Morris Men is the only Morris Ring side and they use curved naval cutlasses. They have approached their MP who is looking into it for them and we are awaiting the result. All efforts have been and are being made behind the scenes to resolve the matter at the highest level. Despite the alarm and natural concern in the sword fraternity that has been generated by the petition, as it is based on a falacy, the petition is likely to be counterproductive."

Take a look at John Hegley's view of the Morris; the pictures are from the recent Oxford Folk Festival; reported in the Guardian. See here; you will need Adobe Flash Player

The Fed now has a Blog, see http://morrisfed.org/mfblog/?p=1, Kevin Taylors wary comment "If it becomes a collecting ground for garbage, access will be made more restrictive." is certainly appropriate! Good luck, I have registered myself - I am member of the Fed. {2/5/09}

The Illustrious Order of Fools & Beasts: Unconvention 17-19 October 2008. Application form open to all, Morris Ring, Open and Fed.

Some older news items have been moved, see here

This is a video from last year's Stafford Morris Ring Meeting, on the dailymotion(!) site. For the other videos of Harthill Morris see this link

Harthill Morris Stafford ring July 07
Uploaded by Harthill-Morris

I apologise for the sound track! As with my last video, if it messes up our MR site menu system above try the above link, and then find you way around our site with the menu at the bottom of this page. Otherwise get Firefox.
Has someone out there any more recent video examples from this year's meetings?

And you might like to see this Peruvian double jig ... myself, I think their music is better! See you at the Sidmouth John Gasson Jig Competition, Sunday 3^thAugust

Danza ceremonial de las tijeras
Cargado por multicanalALBA

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