Dance Display – Birmingham – 18th Feb 2014
Cannon Hill Park
Birmingham
B12 9QH
Silhill Morris
We’re a mixed border morris side based at Wythall in Worcestershire, just south of Birmingham and west of our original home, Solihull.
We perform traditional and contemporary Morris whilst striving to retain the essence of the border style.
We attend dance and folk festivals around the country, join days-of-dance with other sides and beer festivals at Real-Ale public houses.
We undertake traditional marking-of-the-season events such as Wassailing in January, dancing at dawn on May Day and our annual
Boxing Day tour around Henley-in-Arden. We dance for our own enjoyment and for the entertainment of our audiences.
INTERESTED IN JOINING US?
We welcome enquiries from potential new members both dancers (no experience necessary) and musicians.
We’re happy to introduce people with no previous experience to the pleasures of the Morris.
We practice on Tuesday evenings and on occasional Sundays, generally retiring to a local hostelry to recover afterwards.
STEP ON BOARD
Birmingham’s only Appalachian step dance team are based around the area’s own Appalachian Mountains…the Lickey Hills….and were formed, mainly with members of Bromsgrove Folk Club, around the turn of the century. As with most UK sides we are colourful, energetic and loud and we like nothing better that displaying our skills, and our enjoyment in what we do, in public…..at fetes, fairs, festivals and anywhere that will have us…..along with our own happy band of musicians and singers. For more details contact Cynthia on 0121 476 5938 or email bobcynfolk@aol.com
The Green Man Morris and Sword Club
Formed in 1956, the Club takes its name from the Green Man pub, (which is now called the Lad in the Lane), in Erdington, where the side first practised.
The distinctive costume of a green tabard with a Green Man head on front and back, is modelled on a misericord in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry. The Club has led the Lichfield Bower procession on the late May Bank Holiday continuously since 1964, and is well known for its performance of the Lichfield dances, which unlike other Morris dances have 8 men in a side. As well as the Lichfield dance tradition, the Club also performs many Cotswold dances, and the North Skelton Longsword.
Further information is available on the Club website.
Jockey Men’s Morris Club
Jockey Morris Men formed in Birmingham in 1949.
The driving force behind the side’s beginnings was Gwen Johnson. She had not been impressed with the standard of morris dancing that she had seen, and decided that she would put together a side to dance the morris. Gwen lived in Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield so, when a name was needed, Jockey Men’s Morris was decided upon. In another connection to those origins, the rosettes worn on the kit are based on the Sutton Rose.
Jockey’s dances are mostly Cotswold Morris, but also include Welsh Border dances, Rapper and occasional Longsword.
Jockey has appeared at festivals all over the UK, as well as in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.
There have been many radio and television appearances, including a programme about Jockey on BBC Radio 4, for a series called “Team Spirit”
Jockey has made a cd, called Five More Men, and a book of the same name which records the story of the early days. The second volume, taking in the Sixties and Seventies, is currently being written.