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Owlswick Morris is a lively and hard-working Cotswold side, performing a variety of dance traditions with enthusiasm and much enjoyment. This mixed side, once based in Owlswick, now practices in Twyford near Buckingham - a village with a sadly lost 19th century morris tradition of its own.
21st Anniversary
2003 saw our 21st anniversary, and we were busy performing
all over Buckinghamshire and environs, wider parts of the UK and even
in Hungary!
This adventurous and widely travelled bunch have also been seen in Sweden,
France, the Czech Republic.
2004 sees us entertaining the Hungarian Folk Dance
group associated with the festival in Sarvar we have attended several times.
Morris – a very potted history
Morris dance can be found in various different forms all over England:
there’s
even evidence for it being danced in Scotland and Wales. The earliest
references go back the mid 15th century, where it is often associated
with royal occasions
and church festivities. It has certainly changed a lot since then, and
the style of morris which we perform is based on traditions from Oxfordshire,
Northamptonshire
and Gloucestershire, as they were collected in the early 20th century.
Raising money for charity
Each year, we give some of the money we have raised to charity. Last
year we supported Katherine House Hospice near Banbury, Florence Nightingale
Hospice
near Aylesbury and a Leonard Cheshire Home in Devon. This year we hope
to raise
further funds for these or other causes.
Other activities
At Christmas time we busy ourselves performing
a mumming play. From time to time, we’ve also been known to turn our
hands to rapper sword and clog dance. So, watch out for us in our other
guises!
Join us or book us
We practice on Tuesday evenings, from September
to April at Twyford Village Hall - opposite the Crown, see here
for a map. New
dancers and musicians, whether beginners or old hands,
are always welcome.
If you would like to join the side, or make enquiries
about how to book us, please contact:
Jane Bird -
01908 231355 - 81 Linceslade Grove, Loughton, Milton Keynes, MK5
8AD
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