TERPSICHORE: the Greek Muse of Dance.
TERPSICHORE: the Greek Muse of Dance. (We are
always being asked what the name means). Terpsichore NW Morris began in 1980
as a women’s side and officially became mixed some years ago. Our repertoire
consists of dances in the NW Morris tradition, some of which are quite newly
written (not all by us), as well as the older well-known ones. We are also fortunate
in having some excellent step dancers who dance NE clog routines. This gives
the rest of us a break, but they, poor souls, are sometimes to be seen quickly
changing from one type of clog to another whilst trying to catch their breath!
We have danced at the usual mixture of venues (pubs, galas, fairs etc) and some
not so, such as the opening ceremony of the World Student Games in the then
brand new Don Valley stadium in Sheffield, when we helped to christen the turf.
Last year we visited Belgium along with Castleford Longsword and Sallyport Rapper.
This year we have been pleased to be invited to dance at Beverley and Saltburn
Folk Festivals. Both were most enjoyable. If enough of us are present, willing
and able, we have been known to dance at Whitby on the Sunday.
In reecent years we have designed a new costume, using the floral fabric from our last dresses as part of the trimming.
The new kit is closer in feel to the 1980 original, which was also a red pinafore
dress with a light coloured blouse.
The men wear black hoggers and red decorated
waistcoats. We all wear black clogs. One major change has been the abandonment
of bloomers. (Sorry, lads). But you never know, given a cold snap, some of us
may dig them out again!