A women’s Morris dancing team that wears black and purple and only performs to tunes in a minor key is seeking recruits.
Sally Smith founded Medusa Gothic Morris, which regularly performs in and around Knaresborough, in 2005.
But numbers have dwindled, prompting Sally to issue an appeal for women to join.
Despite the exotic name, she insists anyone willing to give it a go isn’t signing up to a mystical cult. She said:
“We are definitely not goths — we haven’t got lots of piercings or anything like that.
“We adopted the colours just because I just like wearing black and purple and wanted to adopt a gothic, pre-Raphaelite style.
“I wanted the dances to be very flowing and feminine that women of any age can do.”
Sally, who is also a member of Harrogate women’s Morris dancing team Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers, said numbers had dwindled to about half a dozen, plus musicians, and urged people to have a go.
No experience is necessary as training is given at practice evenings, which are in Knaresborough on a Thursday evening.
For more details, call Sally on 01423 868753 or email fellow dancer Amy at spolem@hotmail.com.
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Harrogate women’s Morris dancing group holds trial for new recruits
A women’s Morris dancing group in Harrogate is hosting a trial session to recruit new dancers.
Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers has danced its way through Harrogate and the surrounding areas since 1977.
The group has 22 members including musicians but has not recruited any new dancers since before covid.
The taster session will be held at St John’s and St Luke’s Church in Bilton, where the group meets every Wednesday, and welcomes women and girls of all abilities.
Dance teacher and founding member Margaret Burrell said:
“We know it won’t be for everyone but we’d just like people to come and have a go.
“We hold trials every September – usually advertising them with posters in shops – but found it hadn’t been much success.
“This year, we’re putting much more effort in!”
The Morris dancers recently performed at Whitby Folk Week and frequently take part in local events too.
Pic: Tony Rees. Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers performing in 1980.
Although the youngest member is just 16, Ms Burrell said:
“Most of us are in our 50s, 60s and 70s, and when you’re in your 70s things begin to hurt a bit during the dances!
“It would be great to get people of a young age, but we welcome anyone to give it a try.”
Dancers go on a probationary period for four weeks after the trials to ensure they’re happy before becoming official members.
Membership costs £40 per year but the trial is free to attend – the group takes on women and girls aged 16 and upwards.
The taster session will be held on Wednesday, September 20 from 7.45pm.
To register your interest, contact Anita Roy, the group’s secretary, on 07801 948480.
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Ripon saint’s parade couldn’t go marching in
There was no marching in Ripon today as celebrations of the city’s patron Saint Wilfrid had to be significantly scaled down because of social distancing requirements.
The procession around the streets traditionally in step to the music of Ripon City Band, along with accompanying children’s funfair on Market Place, Morris Dancing and a service in the cathedral, were all cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, some citizens were still determined to ensure that a celebration of St Wilfrid would still go ahead, albeit in a reduced form.
For Pearl Abbot, the loss of this year’s procession came as a great disappointment, as she has been actively involved in the event for 30 years – many of which saw her working within a team to create elaborate themed floats for Ripon power contractor FB Taylor of Dallamires Lane.
Mrs Abbot told the Stray Ferret:
“I was sad when I heard that the procession could not go ahead this year. With it also being Yorkshire Day, my friend Val and I had planned to go along wearing costumes designed out of the Yorkshire Flag.”
With no city-wide celebrations this year, Mrs Abbot decided to transform the front garden and fencing at her home in Quarry Moor Lane, Ripon, into a carnival-style display featuring yellow, blue and white balloons, flags, hand-made paper flowers and an extensive exhibition of photographs from processions held in previous years.
Ripon Morris Dancers Band performed in Church Street
She hoped the display, assembled with help from granddaughter Joanne, would provide an enjoyable walk down memory lane for passers by. It will be in place over the remainder of the weekend.
Like the Hornblower’s nightly ceremony, which has been temporarily forced to take place behind closed doors and May’s VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations, activities had to be limited to protect public safety.
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Ripon City Swimming Club, which usually has a float in the annual procession, erected a static display at the Spa Baths, with the message ‘Just Keep Swimming’ and not far away, in Church Street, Ripon Morris Dancers Band provided socially distanced entertainment.
The musicians, along with dancers, have been taking part in the St Wilfrid’s day event since 1983.