What’s the link between Swanage and dance?
Dance is at the heart of Swanage Folk Festival, since 1993 when it started as a day of dance. The festival has since grown to include workshops, a craft fair and top folk bands.
Across the weekend, the town fills with music, flashes of colour and the jingling of bells as dancers perform through the streets, pubs, seafront and squares.
For many dancers, Swanage Folk Festival is not just “another performance weekend”; it’s a positive choice, as they travel from across the UK to meet old friends, share traditions and become part of the atmosphere that makes the festival so special each September.
The festival has many varieties of Morris sides, but also traditional dance groups from many other cultures.
The dancing starts around town on Satuday morning, then hits a crescendo for the procession at 3:30. It restarts on Sunday morning with the festival church service, then dancers once again fill the town until 4pm when many go and dance in the sea.
Experience the atmosphere of dance in Swanage.
Many thanks to Zdravets, a Bulgarian group,
for this video of them enjoying their colourful weekend.
Click the image to watch.
Many thanks to Viv Horne,
for this video of the dancers cooling off in the sea. Click the image above to see the video.
Many thanks to OBJ Morris,
for this video of the Massed Monkey.
Click the image above to watch it.
For many dance sides, Swanage has become a highlight of the folk calendar and a weekend they return to year after year. Part of that is the town itself. Swanage is compact and walkable, with dance spots, pubs, cafés and the seafront all close together, creating a festival where music and dancing spill naturally through the streets. Dancers often describe the town as “so friendly” and “such a pretty place to dance”, with the sea, sunshine and relaxed atmosphere helping make the weekend feel special.
But it is also the feeling of the festival itself. Throughout the weekend, dancers meet other traditions, join sessions in pubs, watch sides they may only see once a year and become part of the rhythm of the town. Visitors regularly comment on the sound of hundreds of bells jangling as dancers move from one spot to another across Swanage. By the end of Sunday, after the final performances and the traditional dancing in the sea, many sides are already looking forward to returning the following September (and hoteliers tell us they’re booked up a year in advance!)
What is Morris dancing?
Morris dancing is a traditional folk dance with music, bells, sticks and costumes, performed by groups across England and beyond. Click for more info.
Morris dancing styles.
From Cotswold and Border Morris to Molly, Rapper, Longsword and clog dancing. Click here to discover the many dance traditions seen at Swanage.
What you’ll see during the festival.
Expect lively processions, pub dance-outs, seafront performances, music, bells, sticks and colourful costumes across Swanage. Click to see who's dancing.
The Swanage sea dance
After a weekend of energetic dancing, looking at the sea, what better than to all jump into the sea for the Swanage Sea dance, another Swanage special.
Who is dancing this year?
There’s a huge variety of dance styles, costumes and music filling Swanage this year. Click here for the full list of dance groups attending.
Morris dancing FAQ.
Why do dancers wear bells? Why do some dancers paint their faces? Discover the stories, traditions and customs behind Morris dancing. Come and find out more.