Cock and Magpie Morris

This mixed Morris side was formed in 1988 when members of Holywell Cross Women’s Morris and Chesterfield Morris Men decide to form a joint side after dancing in single sex groups for ten years. The group's name comes from the two birds supporting the shield on the coat of arms for Chesterfield.

Our dances are based on the Cotswold (Oxfordshire) and Welsh Border traditions and are danced with sets of six or eight people led by the “Squire” (leader). The dancers wave hankies or clash sticks as they dance. The origin of Morris dancing is in ancient Springtime fertility rites, and the noise, spectacle, and vigour of the dance was thought to scare away the dark spirits of Winter and waken the earth ready for new growth as the crops were planted.

The dancers are dressed all in white with red, yellow, blue and green ribbons on arms and wrists.  Leather “bell pads” containing  32 bells are worn on the legs which  ring out, giving the distinctive sound to the dancing. Ragged jackets are also worn for the Border dances which are coats covered with multicoloured strips of cloth which again is based on the original style.

The musicians play traditional tunes on melodeon, violin, mandolin, accordion, concertina and drum to create a sound that has existed through folk history for centuries.

As you can see a quick potted history. We’re extremely friendly and welcome dancers and musicians to join us. Practise nights are Mondays at the Afro-Caribbean Centre on Ashgate Road (excellent place for meals by the way) and we try not to do too much !!!!!. So if you want to dance in Derbyshire or abroad and like the idea of clashing sticks give us a ring.
 

Shirley Niblock    01246  207080  or  nibbo338@yahoo.co.uk