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...​
Alton Morris is a lively, mixed border side based in Hampshire. They are easily recognisable by their red and green faces, tatter jackets and bowler hats.
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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
Aurora is an Appalachian Display Dance group based in Devon. They are made up of experienced dancers who love to dance. Wearing colours seen in an aurora, they perform high-energy dance routines at various festivals and fayres across the country, incorporating both traditional and flat-footing styles.
With dances emerging from the myths, legends and wilds of Dartmoor, Beltane Border Morris shows that morris dancing is a living dynamic tradition. They dance ‘with attitude’, their motto since 2000 when the side started as an all female side called the Iron Maidens. With shadowed faces and tattered coats, their musicians and dancers drum up the dark energy of the moor and share something ancient and mysterious with all who watch, creating a truly exceptional and extraordinary performance. Image by Dorset Morri'arty.
Blackrock School of Irish Dance is a traditional Irish dancing group, originally founded as Yetminster Irish dancers back in 1972, and now based in Stoke-sub-Hamdon. They travel all across the south west performing at weekend festivals, school fetes, stage shows, parties and more! They perform a mixture of group dances and solos in both soft and hard shoes.
Cynewulf Morris specialise in stick and hanky dances of Cotswold origins. Formed in Uplyme, Devon the name is derived from King Cynewulf who was one of the first Kings of Wessex (757-786). Currently recruiting musicians and dancers - to learn more contact Bill Davies at buccbill@hotmail.com
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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.
Formed in 1951, Exeter Morris is the oldest established side in Devon and are members of the Morris Ring of England. Each summer, in their distinctive black top hats, green waistcoats and black britches or skirts with bells at the knees or on their shoes, Exeter Morris dance in towns and villages throughout Devon. From autumn 2022, Exeter Morris became a mixed side, the first in Exeter, welcoming both men and women as new members. Exeter Morris perform mostly Cotswold Morris dances and have a repertoire of about 70 dances.
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 for details.
Knickerbocker Glory Appalachian dancers come from Alton in Hampshire. They dance a variety of choreographed dances to live music with some freestyling. They’re a mixed team and dance in tap shoes and wear blue or black with distinctive multi-coloured waistcoats.
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.
Otter Morris are a Border side dancing in the colours of the oak tree throughout the seasons. We bring our sticks, some original dances and loads of enthusiasm. With around 40 regular members, you can expect a performance to remember. Image copyright Mike Rego.
Phoenix Clog are a small, but perfectly formed, mixed, North West clogging side from Ewell village in Surrey. They will be celebrating their 15th Birthday by dancing at Wimborne Minster Folk Festival for the first time.
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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.
Red Stags are an energetic border morris side, founded in 1968 at
Southampton University. They perform a variety of dances ranging from
traditional to self-penned.
Ridgeway Step Clog is a small group of dancers, based in Oxfordshire, who have been performing together since 1998. Their dances are based on traditional clog steps, mainly from the northern areas of England with influences from Welsh, Canadian and Irish dancing. Ridgeway Step Clog's distinctive style is the result of choreographing routines that blend movement with traditional stepping, whilst some dances include props such as garlands, brooms, sheep and percussion.
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.
Summertown Morris are a women’s Cotswold Morris side formed in Autumn 2011. They dance traditions from the Oxfordshire villages of Ascott-under-Wychwood, Wheatley, and Ducklington.
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.
Wild Moon Morris is a mixed Dark Border Morris group who celebrate Somerset folklore. Hailing from the isle of Avalon, Glastonbury, they wear top hats with silver and black tatters and bring a reputation of high energy with yells to their dances.
Wyld Morris are the West Dorset side that dance the Bridport Rope Dance, a good repertoire of Cotswold dances with sticks and hankies, and a smattering within the Border tradition. A mixed side formed fifteen years ago at Monkton Wyld, they are based around Bridport. Find them at festivals, community events, shows and an occasional pub!
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 two 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.