Traditional street entertainment
Rose & Castle Morris
Formed in 1978 and based in Stoke Bruerne between Milton Keynes and Northampton, Rose & Castle Morris is a mixed North West Morris side. Almost all of their dances are traditional and come from the cities and towns of the North West of England. A significant feature of this side is that they dance in traditional English clogs with “irons” fitted to their soles that make a distinctive sound.
They are always looking for new recruits and will be holding a workshop from 10.30am to 12 noon in Stony Stratford on the morning after the Switching On of the Lights (30th November)
For further information, see their web site:
www.rose-castlemorris.org.uk
Queen's Oak
Queen’s Oak is a women’s morris side from Potterspury in Northamptonshire, a village adjacent to Watling Street just north of Milton Keynes. The name originates from the ancient tree growing in the fields to the north of Potterspury associated in local legend with Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of the Yorkist King Edward IV. Formed over 33 years ago, the side performs a mixture of traditional dances from Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire - the Welsh border counties - along with modern dances written in the same spirit.
The current side has fifteen-plus members from the ages of 15 to 60+.
Stony Steppers
Stony Steppers, based in Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire, first formed in 1997 and has now developed into a strong, enthusiastic dance side. We dance traditional step clog in a variety of styles, mostly from the north of the British Isles, including steps from Lancashire, Durham, Lakeland and East Fife. Some of the dance steps even originate from America. Step clog dancing involves fast and intricate percussive steps, wearing clogs with wooden soles and leather uppers. This traditional form of dancing dates back many years, and was particularly popular in the 19thcentury in the industrialised North of England and the Music Halls and Variety Theatres.
Delta Dancers
Traditional Greek Dancing
The Greek dancing group, Delta Dancers, meet every Monday in St Swinfen Hall, and was initiated by our local Greek Orthodox community. This beginners' group first got together in September 2018 and have already performed four times this year for the Stony Day of Dance, Stony Open Gardens, Stony Nightingales WI group and at the Greek Festival held at the Greek Orthodox Church here in Stony.
Their coach, Dimitrios Mitsis, has been dancing since he was 10 years old in Greece and has continued to be passionately involved with dance and music, performing at events and venues in Greece, Europe and the UK. The traditional dances you will see are from various regions in Greece, they require concentration, teamwork and sometimes stamina! It is great fun and really good exercise.
If you would like to join the group, please speak to one of the dancers or email greekdancestony@yahoo.co.uk
Rashiqa
Rashiqa is a Middle Eastern Dance (belly dance) Troupe based in Wolverton, Milton Keynes. Although specialising in Egyptian dance, we also enjoy performing to Arabic, Lebanese and Turkish music, both traditional and modern.
For further information, see their web site: www.rashiqa.co.uk
The Brackley Morris Men
The Brackley Morris Men have been active in South Northants since at least the 1600s. Some snippets from our records below:
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A solid silver communion plate inscribed with the names of seven men, believed to be the morris men, was given to the parish church in Brackley and still exists today.
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In 1725 and again in 1731 the men are recorded as dancing for Thomas Cartwright of Aynho House for the Whitsun Ale celebrations.
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1766. The Squire, having been ‘troublesome’ and ‘insolent’ in playing the fool in Oxford was committed to Bridewell as a vagrant.
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The men danced in Banbury where the fool was reported by the Oxford Chronicle as performing his ‘witless buffoonery’'
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1930s Dancing dies out in Brackley.
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1959 The dances were revived in 1959 at Magdalen School, Brackley, when Roger Nicholls, a teacher there, formed a side from among the boys. Although the connection with the school has been lost down the years, and members of the side now come from all over the area, the tradition of dancing has continued to the present day.
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“A cultural phenomenon that can survive three centuries… speaks volumes for the skill and tenacity of successive generations of Brackley men”. Keith Chandler, Morris Historian
Stony Redcaps
Based in Stony Stratford, Stony are a women’s Morris side that was formed in 1981. They dance a mix of traditional Manx (Isle of Man) and Garland dances and celebrated their 30th anniversary with a trip to the Isle of Man to participate in an International Folk dance festival and learn more about the history of the dances that they do. They are always looking for more dancers and musicians so if you are interested please talk to them during the afternoon
For further information, see their web site:
Rapskallian
Rapskallian Morris, dressed in the style of highwaymen, are based in the Milton Keynes area. They’ve given up their pistols and swords in favour of hankies and sticks. They perform dances from a variety of traditions including Cotswold and Manx.
