BARLEY BRIGG NORTH-WEST MORRIS
We are in need of new dancers!
We are a very friendly bunch and welcome new dancers- don't worry if you have no experience of Morris dancing, it's easy, and we will ease you in gently!
Barley Brigg are a mixed morris side based in Yoxford, near the beautiful Suffolk coast. Founded in 1989, we dance the North-West tradition of morris which features sets of 8 or 12 in a dance consisting of a chorus ('step-up') and a number of processional and geometrical figures. The stepping is accentuated by iron-shod clogs with bells. We are instantly recognisable in our patriotic colours of red white and blue, and our impressive flowery hats!
This is where we're going to be dancing this season, but keep checking for additions and updates. Regular Wednesday pub sessions will start late April and will be added here.
Subject to short-notice cancellation if wet. Timings accord to 'morris time' (i.e. somewhat approximate!)
| Date | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 26th Dec 2024 | 11am | Our traditional Boxing Day dance By the Moot Hall, Aldeburgh |
| Wed 1st Jan 2025 | 12-2pm | New Year's Day dance Outside the Plough & Sail, Snape Maltings With Danegeld and Pretty Grim (tbc) |
| Wed 23rd April 2025 | 7.15pm | St George's Day By the Moot Hall, Aldeburgh First dance of the Summer season! |
| Sat 5th July 2025 | Procession at 10am then through the day | Potty Festival, Sheringham We were part of the World Record dance here in 2018! |
Dance Notes
North-West dances usually have a repeating chorus ('step-up') separating a number of contrasting figures, which include geometrical patterns such as star, crossover, hay (figure of eight weave) and cast (travelling from one end of set to the other). After the final step-up and applause there is usually a dance off. Steps include polka, march and single-step. Most dances feature two tunes, often in an AAB pattern.
| Dance | Comments |
|---|---|
| Grain's Bar | An unusual staggered arrangement for the step-up, and a notable dance-off with everyone sidestepping each other. Clusters - Diagonals - Double Hey - Fours & Change - Cascade/Dance off |
| Rivington | Back in the repertoire for 2025, a dance with slings, whirling by the sides or overhead. Lovely, jolly tune Cast - Star Right - Star Left - Feather - Double Cast - Square Hey - Final Figure |
| Whitby Shindig | A perennial favourite, the figures depict various landmarks around the town of Whitby. Danced with bobbins Flowergate - Abbey Windows - Swing Bridge - Up the Steps - Bandstand - Whale Bones - Cast . |
| Gisburn | Danced with ribbon sticks to a jig, with an exuberant 'swing-down' figure near the end, followed by a mad dash off (to the bar probably) Circles - Twos - Rights & Lefts - Star - Swing Down - Dance off |
| Spitfire | A popular dance notable for the unusual shape of the set which denotes the wings and fuselage of a Spitfire. Danced with traditional wooden bobbins to a polka step. With thanks to John Hakeman of Knockhundred Shuttles who devised the dance Points & Turns - Hey - Lines - Circle Hey |
| St Helens | A good dance with a striking tune in the minor mode. An energetic thrusting forward of sticks in the step up, a varied selection of figures including 'Royton' where we are in a St George's cross type arrangement, facing up the set then down dancing the Royton step Promenade - Big Star - Cast - Ladies Chain - Royton |
| Old Halsnead | New this season. A short dance with four figures, the last one being 'Snakes and Ladders', where we either go backwards in a line (ladder) or forwards in a sidestepping kind of way (snake) Back to Back - Chain Across - Star Cross - Snakes & Ladders - Dance Off |
| Carr Lodge Polka | Back in the repertoire this season, occasionally performed as a mass dance when with other N-W morris sides. Usually the cause of some hilarity as the other side invariably dances to a different tune and with the figures in a different order, with different names- this only becoming apparent as the dance is in progress. Cue end of session and a dash to the nearest bar Stepping - Up Through - Oxo - Gateposts - Figure 5 (aka Off to the Pub) - Zip |
| Public dance: Grenoside | Elegant and very easy country dance ending with a snaking figure to get everyone in a big circle. Not at all energetic, suitable for all- resistance is futile!! |
We Need You!
It's fun, it's easy, it will help keep you fit, and we are a friendly bunch...
...and you will be helping to keep a tradition alive.
We meet to practice weekly during Autumn and Winter, and in late Spring and early Summer you will find us out and about at various venues on and near the picturesque Suffolk coast.
You are very welcome to come along to a practice session at any time just to watch, or to have a go, either dancing or playing. No previous experience necessary! There will be tea and biscuits...
Regular practice sessions
September to April
Wednesdays 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Yoxford Village Hall
NB new earlier start time!
Old High Road, Yoxford, Suffolk IP17 3HN
-just off the A12 at Yoxford, north of Saxmundham
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Join us at a practice to see what it's all about- drop us a line first just to check the session is going ahead. See the bottom of the page for contact details
Morris is the best known style of ceremonial dance in England and the earliest references to it date from the 15th century.
Distinctive styles of morris emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries:
- North-West from the mills of Lancashire and Cheshire, often processional in nature, clogs, geometric patterns representing the designs off the looms
- Cotswold originated in the South Midlands, performed with hankies and sticks, white costumes, waistcoats (the style people tend to think of first as 'morris')
- Border from along the Welsh border, energetic, a bit wild, tatter coats, often painted faces
- Molly from East Anglia, striking costumes and pronounced footwork
- Other styles sometimes seen include Appalation (a style of clog dancing from the US), Clog Step, Rapper, Garland, Mumming, Maypole, Longsword
Barley Brigg dances North-West morris in elaborate and colourful costumes with the stepping accentuated by the use of clogs. North-West dances are often processional in nature. A side consists of a dance leader and, usually, eight dancers. The leader calls the figures which are geometric patterns. A dance consists of a repeated chorus ('step-up') separated by five or six figures and a dance off to end. Steps are march, polka (rant) or single step.
Originally based in Laxfield in the heart of Suffolk, Barley Brigg takes its name from Barley Bridge, to be found at Barley Green on the road to Stradbroke, which led to the Hoxne Union Workhouse. The 'residents' of the institution, which closed in 1871, would apparently hide their possessions near the bridge going in, and retrieve them later when they left.
In addition to our Summer evening pub dances, Barley Brigg appear at a number of events in East Anglia and further afield. In 2012 we visited the Netherlands and danced at the famous Cheese Market in Edam. In July 2008 we performed at the Rättviksdansen folklore festival in Sweden. We have danced on the West Coast of Ireland, the Isle of Wight, and Brittany and Bouchain in Northern France. We regularly perform at festivals such as Folk East, the Wimbourne Folk Festival, Rochester Sweeps, Potty Festival in Sheringham and many others.
The costumes worn by Barley Brigg consist of red socks, blue breeches, white shirts, blue and red sashes, red and white neckerchiefs and top hats decorated liberally with flowers for the men; red tights or stockings, blue and white striped skirts, white blouses and black straw hats decorated with flowers for the women.
We wear traditional wooden-soled, iron-shod clogs on hard surfaces to really enhance the stepping.
We dance with a variety of hand-held implements which include cotton rope slings, decorated sticks, wavers, and vintage wooden bobbins from the woollen mills of Lancashire.
Music is an integral part of morris dancing and we have a fantastic band of musicians led by Ade on the melodeon.
The musical line-up is constantly changing but generally includes D/G melodeons, guitar, mandolin, bass drum and other percussion. Sometimes a fiddle, recorder, or brass instrument accompany the dances with traditional tunes such as Rattling Bog, Tralee Gaol, Salmon Tails and the Floral Dance.
30 Years of Dancing 2019
Picture by Ni GoodingLocal Folk Music & Dance
Mardles- news from the Folk scene around East Anglia
Syzewell Gap- local Ceilidh band
Potty Festival Sheringham, usually first weekend in July. On the website is a video of the successful Guinness World Record event that Barley Brigg were part of in 2018
Other local Morris sides
Danegeld-North-West Morris, based near Woodbridge
Pretty Grim Border Morris, based in Blaxhall
Other useful links
The Morris Federation The Uk's largest association of Morris and traditional dance teams
Latest News: Autumn 2024
- Practice sessions are well underway, but new folk always welcome!
- We would love to see new dancers, no experience necessary. Come along on any Wednesday evening
You are very welcome to come and join us at a practice session from September to April, Wednesdays at 7.30pm, Yoxford Village Hall. Everyone welcome, no previous experience necessary
You can just turn up, but for more information and to avoid disappointment in case a session is cancelled, contact the Squire: Rob 07986 602230 squire@barleybrigg.org.uk. There will be tea and biscuits.If you would like us to dance at your pub or venue from April onwards, please email using the links below
We need a reasonably large space with a hard surface (not grass or shingle) to dance on, as we dance in clogs. Click on the link above for more information about North-West morris, and Barley Brigg.
