DANCE
A traditional terpsichorean treat! The streets come alive with colour, music, the joy of dancing - and the joy of watching dancing. An essential and much-loved part of the Festival.
Dance times and locations will be published in the print and download Programmes. More info to come here but just some of the dance sides appearing...​
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Anonymous Morris
Energetic Border Morris team from Poole. They dance in purple tatter jackets and top hats and write many of their own dances.
anonymousmorris.co.uk
Enigma Border Morris hail from Stoke-sub-Hamdon in Somerset. They are an all inclusive side who enjoy dancing together in a fun way. Their kit is individual but with matching black & turquoise tatters.
Festus Derriman are based at the Old School Hall opposite Upwey Wishing Well near Weymouth, Dorset. They are a mixed side who raise money for local charities by dancing mainly in Cotswold Morris Tradition with sticks and hankies.
Gidderskins Herefordian verb “To go out on a spree and have a lark”.
Gidderskins are an innovative and exciting Border Morris Dance side based in Herefordshire, bringing you traditional English folk dances with a modern twist!
Jan's Gems are an all inclusive group of local dancers who not only Bellydance, but also dance Bollywood, Latin & Fusion styles. They have fun, lively music and dance out at many local events in support of local and national charities. Classes are at Burton, Sopley, Fordingbridge, Dibden and on Zoom. Please contact Jan on janbelly@hotmail.com or 07977 909564 for details.
Lodestone Border Morris is a vibrant and energetic Border Morris dancing side based in Tavistock, Devon. The group is dedicated to preserving the rich traditions of Border Morris dancing, a style characterized by its lively tunes, energetic steps, and colourful costumes.
Through their performances, they aspire to bring joy and excitement to audiences of all ages, sharing the unique and captivating world of Border Morris. 2025 marks their 20th anniversary of performing to the public.
New Forest Meddlars were formed in 1990 and are a mixed morris side dancing mainly in the Border and Cotswold traditions but varying performances with new dances, some collected at workshops and some devised by themselves.
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Quayside Cloggies are a mixed Clog - Morris side who dance in the North-West tradition. They celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. The kit for the women is a blue dress, a pink waistcoat, white bloomers, a pink and blue headband and navy blue clogs. The men wear a white shirt, black trousers, a blue waistcoat, a black hat with blue, pink and white ribbons and navy blue clogs.
Sarum Morris are a mixed Cotswold side from Salisbury, dancing in and around for over 40 years. They perform dances from the traditions of Bampton, Ilmington and Oddington as well as a number of others including their own self-penned dances and tunes. They dance in traditional whites with the blue and gold colours of Salisbury City in their sashes and baldrics.
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Southern Star Longsword are a sword dance team based in Corfe Mullen. They weave their swords into a variety of patterns, and do a mixture of
traditional and modern dances. They welcome dancers and musicians who are still at school.
southernstarlongsword.co.uk/
Spank the Planks is based in Bournemouth and specialises in Appalachian clog dancing, a form of American folk dancing which originated in the Appalachian mountains. They wear shoes with taps and their dance style is based on traditional Appalachian steps and other percussive forms of dance. They dance to ‘Old Timey’ music, similar to Bluegrass, and their musicians play fiddles, guitars and bass.
Stroud Morris bring you dances hewn from the Cotswold limestone of the Five Valleys. They dance in a kaleidoscope of colour representing their white sheep, green hills and the red cloth made in Stroud for the soldiers of King George.
A ladies’ side based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, they have danced all over the UK in the last 30 years and can’t wait to dance for you at Wimborne this Summer.
Whitethorn Morris are a ladies North West Morris side from Watford. The side was formed in 1977 and dances in a characteristic red, white and blue kit.
The dances are predominantly from the North West of England, especially Lancashire and Cheshire, and are performed in the style of north west London in inimitable Whitethorn fashion.
Zdravets is a Bulgarian Folk Dance Group with members from different parts of Bulgaria and also members from England and USA. They meet once a week for 2 hours, to rehearse.
They are trying to preserve the traditional folk dances and their hand made, colourful costumes present different parts of Bulgaria.
The group has participated in lots of local and international festivals and is always very well welcomed.