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DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS
We formed in September 2001 and meet every Wednesday in the close season (October to April) in the village hall at Meavy, near Yelverton to practice.
We are a mixed side - (men and women) and dance Border style - dances collected from the counties of the English-Welsh border such as Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, though we do include original dances from Devon in our repertoire. From May 1st to early September we dance out at local hostelries, fetes and folk festivals.
The colour of our tatters are a blend of moorland colours from purple (heather) to green (grass - what else!) and grey (granite) and blue (sky). Hats are often decorated with feathers and our faces with sheep and other topical moorland motifs. |
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THE MORRIS DANCE is traditionally believed to have evolved from ancient fertility rites, although the present dance is more recent. The name "Morris" may be a corruption of the word "Moorish" a reference to the way dancers black their faces and supposedly resemble Moors. Morris dancing in Victorian England was in a general decline until a man named Cecil Sharp became interested in collecting and recording traditional folk dances and music. It is largely from his collection that todays dances and their many variants are drawn. Morris sides often choose to dance one of two styles, either Cotswold or Border. Vital to the Morris dance are bells, handkerchiefs and sticks visually attractive as they are ritualistic in their origins. The musicians use various instruments to create their distinctive sound from melodeons, accordions and tabors to fiddles and guitars. |
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MUMMING PLAYS
Sides also have in their repetoire special 'Mumming' hero-combat plays often particular to one area and season. These produce a cast of colourful characters including St.George, Father Christmas, Bold Soldier, Valiant Soldier, Turkish Knight and The Doctor among others. These are often great fun to watch (and participate in) and are probably a forerunner of the more traditional pantomime. Dartmoor perform a mumming play each December before Christmas at Buckland Abbey the home of pirate and explorer Sir Francis Drake, needless to say he has featured regularly in the side's play. Another recent addition to the play (2003) was Mother Dolly who swept out room for the players to perform (right). |
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HOBBY HORSE
Among sides there will always be lurking a curious animal figure invariably a 'Obby Oss' usually appearing on May Day, and even dragons and peculiar bull-like animals!
Dartmoor have Chatterley a hobby horse who is very much a law unto himself - often to be found dancing out with the side at fetes and on special occassions, this thoroughbred Dartmoor pony is something of a primadonna and enjoys nothing better than to be the centre of attention cantering through dances and begging strokes and tickles from the many enthusiastic onlookers.
In the picture Chatterley (right) obtains a friendly peck from the dark Sarum Morris horse Hob Nob (left) |