Teams 2009

Earlsdon Morris Men

Formed in 1971 in the village of Earlsdon, in Coventry, Earlsdon Morris Men perform the traditional North West clog dances, a style when the ordinary working men of the time danced in their everyday clothes – knee britches and heavy iron shod clogs.

Look out for these welcome newcomers to the Rushbearing Festival in their white shirts, red/blue diamond sashes, sky blue socks and wonderfully decorated flowered bowlers.

The Iron Men

Making a very long overdue return to the Rushbearing, the Ironmen are a team who dance in the Welsh Border tradition, together with The Severn Gilders a women's team who dance North West Morris. The two sides are separate, but very closely associated teams of morris dancers based in the historic town of Ironbridge in Shropshire.

The Severn Gilders

Their name is taken from the decorators of fine china at the old Coalport china works on the banks of the River Severn close to Ironbridge. For most of their dances they hold short sticks, often decorated with ribbons and bells, while for others they carry woven 'slings' or floral garlands – all of which are traditional in North West Morris.

Like the Ironmen, they wear the distinctive colours of red and black which symbolise the coal and fire of the Industrial Revolution which had its roots in the part of Shropshire where they are based, with added touches of gold as a reminder of their link with the Coalport china gilders.

Stone the Crows Morris (Saturday only)

Another side making their first appearance at Rushbearing, Stone the Crows are a well-established group based in Leyland, Lancashire with over twenty-five members, who share a passion for English traditional dance, dancing in Border Morris style.

Historically so as not to be recognised by past or potential employers, Border Morris dancers would blacken their faces and wear rag 'tatter' jackets. Dances done in the Border Morris style are energetic, a little bit wild and usually very loud – you have been warned!

Britannia Coconut Dancers (Sunday only)

A welcome return to the most unique Morris Dancing side in the North of England – with their origins tracing back through Cornish Tin Miners to Moorish Pirates (allegedly!)
With the wooden discs or ‘coconuts’ on hands, knees and belt and the red, white and blue garlands depicting spring flowers nowhere is there a traditional dance team like them.

Rhubarb Tarts (Sunday only)

The Rhubarb Tarts are a Molly side based in Wakefield making their Rushbearing debut.

Molly dancing originated in East Anglia and the Fens and was, traditionally, a dance of midwinter — a time when no sane person dances outside! The dances were social dances of the area and the time, and the dancers disguised themselves in weird clothing or by cross-dressing, and blacking-up their faces.

Much further north than the Fens is the Wakefield–Rothwell–Morley Rhubarb Triangle. Conceived in the Rhubarb Triangle in 2004, the Rhubarb Tarts wear individual costumes, mainly in the rhubarb colours of red, pink, green and yellow, with green faces.

White Rose Morris Men (Sunday only)

Based in Huddersfield, White Rose promote the South Midlands (or Cotswold) tradition ‘Up North’ currently performing dances from the Cotswold villages of Oddington, Bampton, Fieldtown and Bidford.

A familiar sight in their distinctive ‘whites’ with green baldricks and straw hats White Rose perform at major events from Holmfirth to Romania, and have also danced in Sweden, Jersey and Provence.

Ryburn Longsword

Our local team from Ripponden, Ryburn have been dancing in the Yorkshire Longsword style since 1994. Evidence suggests that similar dances were being performed only a few miles from Ripponden in the 18th and 19th centuries. They have established quite a reputation amongst the sword dance fraternity for their range of traditional and original figures, which includes a six-sword lock representing the design of the Rushcart’s triangle.

Hebden Bridge Hill Millies

After making their debut at the 2007 Rushbearing Festival we are delighted that the Hebden Bridge Hill Millies have now become our second regular local team. An all female Cotswold side they dance in maroon waistcoats and black trousers and strike fear into cider vendors everywhere.

Peace Artistes

Leading the procession on Saturday for the third year running the Peace Artistes are a stunning street band of percussion, saxes and brass. Rocking with rhythm and pulsating with passion the Peace Artistes were formed in Bradford in 1983 to perform on marches organised by the Peace Movement, and even welcomed Archbishop Desmond Tutu on his visit in 1987.

Now internationally renowned for their vital, energetic performance at festivals, carnivals and indoor events their irresistible blend of African, Salsa, Folk and Funk will always get the party partying.

Bradshaw Mummers

The Rushbearing Festival simply would not be complete without the appearance of the Bradshaw Mummers at various venues on the route over both days.

The Bradshaw Mummers were formed as a one-off entertainment for the now defunct Bradshaw Tavern Folk Club New Years' Eve party in 1972.

Since no one could think of an excuse to stop, they became a permanent side and have since inflicted themselves not just on Sowerby Bridge but the rest of the country as well including Chester, Middlewich, Beverley, Warwick, Bromyard, Clitheroe and anywhere else brave enough to book a team with its own resident pyromaniac.

400 Roses

Last year the comely ladies of 400 Roses, the tribal-fusion belly dancers, asked if they could be part of the Rushbearing. Hardly had the dust settled after the event when they asked us “can we come again?” – and we said “of course you can!”

Although not part of the actual procession make sure that you do not miss their amazing undulations:

Saturday – The Works at 3.45pm
Sunday – The Alma Inn at 12.30pm and Ripponden at 4.15pm.