Teams 2009

Wolf's Head & Vixens

WolfVixenWolf's Head Morris was formed in 1995 and first danced out in 1996 as a men only side. Later that year the women's side, Vixen, was formed. The side celebrated it's 5th year of existence in September 2000 with a weekend of dance in Rochester. Both sides are based in the Medway Towns (Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham) in North Kent and dance Border style Morris but there are differences in their approach to the creation and performance of the dances.

The first noticeable thing about Wolf's Head & Vixen, particularly when compared to other Morris sides, is the total lack of colour in the kit. The mens kit is fairly traditional and dates to the 17th and 18th Centuries. The womens kit is totally untraditional unless you are studying the Goth music culture of the mid-1980's!

Pecsaetan Morris

Pecsaetan formed in 2001, after a group of friends decided they wanted to dance Cotswold Morris.

The original members all knew one another through connections with the Sheffield University Ceilidh Society, although the team is entirely independent of the University.

They are very impressive dance team, both technically and aesthetically.

Stone Monkey Rapper

Stone MonkeyFormed around 1990/91, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers specialise in the Rapper Sword Dance. Although they do not perform a "traditional" dance from one of the original pit villages, they have taken the spirit and energy of the rapper dance, and put together their own set of figures, many of which are their own invention.

Based in Long Eaton, between Nottingham and Derby, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers have strong links with the rapper tradition. Several members of the team were born and brought up in the North East and others have spent many years there. Members of the team have danced with other rapper sides, such as Black Cap, Keele, Leeds Sadler, Newcastle Kingsmen, Sallyport and High Spen Blue Diamonds. The distinctive Stone Monkey style has developed from a fusion (don't you just hate that word?) of these many and varied influences.

Wakefield Morris

Wakefield Morris are a mixed side comprising dancers from two older teams, The Horberie Shrogys and Ring O'Belles.

For some years the two teams danced as two separate entities, although a mixed set would form part of the regular display. But as time went by the numbers of men in the side reduced and the appearance of a Shrogys side became a rarity. The team's appearances now featured a mixed side more and more, with the occasional display dance by the "Ring O'Belles". The mixed side had taken on the rather prosaic title of "Wakefield Morris Dancers" and this is the name that has stayed.

The team has now been together for over twenty two years and includes in the present side some who have danced through the majority of the teams history. Highlights in the history have been tours to France and Germany, regular appearances at folk festivals throughout Britain such as Whitby, Sidmouth, Warwick, Holmfirth and Cleethorpes.