Cotswold Morris

You’ll probably recognise Cotswold Morris; it’s possibly the best known of the English traditional dance styles. It typically features sticks or hankies.

Cotswold Morris is an exuberant and time-honored English folk dance style that emerged in the Cotswold region. It involves a team of dancers adorned in vibrant costumes, accompanied by lively music. With energetic movements, intricate stepping patterns, and formations, it showcases the essence of English folklore. Bells, sticks, and handkerchiefs add rhythmic flair, creating a symphony of sound.

Video of Cotswold Morris sides

This video is created by the Morris Federation and shows some of the Cotswold sides appearing at the Swanage Folk Festival. it features:

• Mendip Morris who were founded in 1956. They normally perform around the North Somerset and Mendip areas – with the occasional visit to festivals, such as the Swanage Folk Festival, and also trips to foreign festivals! New and prospective members are always welcome with sessions on every other Wednesday evening open to beginners are very welcome. In the video they’re doing the Miller of Dee dance.
• Garston Gallopers are based in the village of East Garston, West Berkshire. The side uses short sticks, long sticks and hankies and have one dance using big hankies, known as the Big Hanky dance. They perform at local pubs or Folk Festivals across the south of England. They  are a mixed gender side with both men and women dancing together in the same set and always welcome new recruits, both dancers and musicians. In the video they’re doing the Ten Green Bottles dance.
• Sarum Morris are a mixed Cotswold Morris side in Salisbury, who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2022. They dance mostly dances from Illmington, Oddington and Bampton but also have a range of self penned tunes and dances. They dance at festivals, fetes and community events and each year support local charities. They currently have dancers from under 10 to over 80 – and welcome new members throughout the year. The video shows Sarum performing at their 40th anniversary celebrations in 2022.

Many thanks to Brian Kelly of the Morris Federation for this great video and the background information.