Frome Valley Morris

Frome Valley Morris practice every Thursday october to April at West Stafford Village Hall, near Dorchester. We perform English vernacular dances, (often called traditional or folk), which are derived from teachers who have learnt them passed down over 200 years. We perform Cotswold Morris dances, (the hankie and stick type), Longsword, some Border stype stick dances and in the winter a mumming play with a century old local script. Some of the dances are derived from those performed in South Midlands villages in the 19th Century, others we have choreographed ourselves. The team wear a distinctive costume and are noted for precision and care in the movements and figures of the dances. We perform every Thursday evening from May to August in villages and towns in South and West Dorset, bringing this unique performing art form to people who otherwise have little opportunity for seeing dance. We also attend festivals and weekends of dance and in the winter take the play to venues which have welcomed us -pubs, village halls and houses. We fund ourselves from donations, except in 200-2001 when we received a Lottery Awards for All grant for performing art and welcome any new prospective dancers or musicians, experienced or not.