Author: Bedcote

It’s that time of year again and our Day of Dance is nearly upon us! Hurrah!

We have been beavering away making last minute preparations for the day and are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming so many sides, both old friends and new, to Stourbridge this Saturday 2nd June.

Below you can see our finalised Dance timetable. Have a look and see where you are dancing OR where your favourite side is dancing so that you can catch them on the day!

If you would like a pdf version of the timetable, please click here

Stourbridge gets its dancing shoes on

More than 100 dancers will be performing around Stourbridge on Saturday June 2 as Bedcote Morris hosts the town’s fourth annual Day of Dance.

Bedcote, Stourbridge’s own Cotswold Morris side, is keen to celebrate the flourishing local dance scene, with free performances all around the town.

A wide variety of styles will be on show, including Cotswold, Border and North-West Morris, step clogging, belly dancing and Irish dancing.

Chris Burton, squire of Bedcote Morris, said: “Our Day of Dance is now firmly established on the local dance calendar and has attracted a lot of interest around the Midlands.

“We are particularly pleased this year to welcome Mr Wilkins’ Shilling from Bath and Styx Border Morris from Stroud, along with many of our more local friends.

“We are expecting ten dance sides, which will mean more than 100 dancers and musicians showing that traditional dance is alive and kicking.”

Performances will take place from 11am-3pm at the junction of Lower High Street and Coventry Street, at the entrance to the Rye Market in the High Street and in St Thomas’s Church Community Garden in Market Street.

Local dancers taking part will include Castle Clog, and the Gallagher O’Connor Academy of Irish Dance. In addition the day will see performances by Old Meg North-West Morris from Malvern, Beorma Border Morris and Black Adder North-West Morris from Birmingham, Foxs Border Morris from Cookley and Belly Fusion Dance Collective from Worcestershire and Shropshire Sharp Shins rapper.

Day of Dance marks Bedcote anniversary

The streets of Stourbridge will once again be filled with the sights and sounds of traditional dance as more than 100 performers take part in the Bedcote Morris Day of Dance.

Bedcote, Stourbridge’s own Cotswold Morris side, is hosting its second Day of Dance on Saturday May 21 to celebrate the flourishing local dance scene, with free performances all around the town.

A wide variety of dance styles will be on show, with traditional Cotswold sides joined by Border Morris and Molly performers, clog steppers, steampunk belly dancers and Irish dancers.

Chris Burton, squire of Bedcote Morris, said: “Last year’s inaugural Day of Dance was a real joy, with plenty of positive comments from dancers and members of the public. This year we will have three dance spots around the town to keep the Saturday shoppers entertained. Bedcote is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year and we want our Day of Dance to be a focal part of our silver jubilee.

“There should be something to please most dance fans – and those who are new to the scene. There is a real wealth of dancing talent in this part of the world in a wide variety of styles and we want to spread the word that traditional dancing is alive and kicking.”

Performances will take place from 11am-3pm in the square at the junction of High Street and Market Street, in Foster Street and in St Thomas’s Church Community Garden in Market Street.

Local dancers taking part will include Castle Clog, Itchy Feet Appalachian and the Gallagher O’Connor Academy of Irish Dance. In addition the day will see performances by Jockey Men’s Morris, Black Adder Clog Morris and Beorma Border Morris from Birmingham, Foxs Border Morris, Belly Fusion Dance Collective and Asum Grass Molly Dancers from Worcestershire.

Bedcote Morris would like to thank all our friends in the Morris world who have expressed condolences following the untimely death of our co-founder, long-time Squire and musical leader Ian Chamberlain.

Ian was at the heart of everything that has made Bedcote a thriving and popular side – knowledge, enthusiasm, generosity of spirit and sense of fun. As we embark on our 25th anniversary season we would like to make 2016 a year of celebration for the immense contribution Ian made to Morris in the Midlands and beyond.

Practices commence from the 24th September at Gigmill Methodist Church Hall in Witton Street, Stourbridge from 8 till 10pm