Local Morris & Group Dance websites:
Page edited Friday 6th July, 2022. If you are not on here and want to be, please let us know. I’m afraid it is in a bit of a jumbled order as it “just grooed”. I intend to beat it into order in the near future!
Warning: Many dance groups have a “holiday” around school holiday time as attendances tend to drop. Please check before you travel any distance.
Makara Morris, Wansford near Driffield
A Border Morris Team who train during the winter at Wansford Village Hall on Monday evenings at 7.00 p.m. Contact Debby at 01482 473070. or email withbelzon@hotmail.com . There is a new website at http://www.makaramorris.co.uk
Morris Minors: A team of volunteers who visit schools and youth organisations in Hull and the East Riding to promote traditional music and dance and sometimes even song. Among other things, they can teach Morris dancing to the children and give inset to the staff. They have a website at: http://www.morrisminors.wordpress.com . Contact by email to Debby at stickandbells@gmail.com or ring (01482) 473070.
Rackaback Morris, Hull www.rackaback.com
A Hull based Border Morris Team who now train at St Ninian’s Scout Hut, behind the church on Chanterlands Avenue, Hull, (up the path by the railway bridge) on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 p.m.
Green Ginger Garland Dancers: A Hull based garland dancing troupe who now train at Sion Church, Hallgate, Cottingham, Hull at 8.00 p.m. Thursday nights. http://www.greengingergarland.com/
The Beverley Garland Dancers: Now practise in King’s Church Hall, off Swinemoor Lane (same turn off as Aldi) in Beverley HU17 0JX on Thursday nights at 7.45 p.m. http://www.beverleygarlanddancers.co.uk/
Minster Strays: A York based Morris group who do both Cotswold and Border styles http://www.minsterstrays.org.uk/index.html
The Raving Maes: Hessle based. A rather unconventional take on Morris. Can be contacted on (01482) 629017 or through website www.theravingmaes.co.uk
Scarborough White Rose Garland Dancers. No website yet but can be contacted on 01723 582681 or by post to 9 Raven Close, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 4UE
Ravens Morris (previously known as Shiptonthorpe Ravens): based in Shiptonthorpe Village Hall between Market Weighton & Pocklington and meet on Monday nights from 7.30 to 9 p.m. Another unconventional take with “steam punk Morris”. http://www.ravensmorris.com
Rhubarb Tarts: Wakefield based Mollie team who have now, sadly, disbanded but their website remains live http://www.rhubarbtarts.com/home
Wakefield Morris: Meet at the Methodist Hall in Horbury WF4 5LE Monday nights September through to May. Dance North West style Morris. http://www.wakefieldmorris.com/
Yorkshire Coast Morris are based in Scarborough and hold an annual weekend of dance to which other teams are invited. They perform border and Cotswold Morris. http://www.yorkshirecoastmorris.org.uk/ warning: website well out of date!
Teams from “over The Bridge”.
Grimsby Morris Men http://www.grimsbymorrismen.org.uk are a men’s team based in Grimsby (the name gives it away). 2017 was their Golden Anniversary year. They tend to dance Cotswold through the Summer and Border through the Winter.
The Herring Gals a recent North West Clog Morris side formed in Grimsby who performed at the Hull Day of Dance in 2016 and 2017. They work closely with Grimsby Morris Men. https://www.herringgals.co.uk/?q=node/1
Lincolnshire Poachers are a Lincoln based Border style group who are enjoying a new lease of life. http://www.poachermorris.org
Tatterfoals are a Scunthorpe based North West style team who who can be seen dancing at the 2014 Hull Folk Festival on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVe4sX4S_n0 . Their website is not currently available but according to the Yorkshire Folk Arts Directory they can be contacted via Pam Cook on 01724 346382
Useful Sites
The English Folk Dance and Song Society
The English Folk Dance and Song Society, based at Cecil Sharpe House in London, is at the centre of all things folk. Their website details resources, many free to download, for anyone in education or youth work.
The National Youth Folklore Troupe of England . Usually known as “Nifty”, this is the Shangrila for young people 10 to 18 who are seriously bitten by the folk bug and enjoy the parental support to indulge it. I have seen these children in performance and their excellence is awesome.
Hallamshire Traditions http://www.hallamtrads.co.uk/Home.html is run by Paul & Liz Davenport. They work with schools and young people in the West Riding and East Midlands. Paul is noted for his research and projects and one of his past projects was researching the Ploughboys’ dances in the Aldborough region of Holderness.
The Historical Dance Society (registered charity 270896) http://www.dhds.org.uk
Not strictly Morris but if you are interested in trying out historical social dance from the medieval and Tudor periods, they hold workshops for dancers and musicians.
No dance experience needed for the dance workshops.
The music workshops will be suitable for modern and historical instruments and music will be provided in advance. There will be expert tuition and subsidised charges.
The Morris Shop, http://www.themorrisshop.com was part of the Morris Ring but now operates independently for the sale of Morris related items, including bells and swords.
The Hull and Cottingham Folk Dance Club. Meets every Tuesday Evening from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm at the Darby & Joan Hall in Finkle Street, Cottingham. “Visitors and new members are always made welcome. A partner is not essential, so please feel able to join us even if you are on your own. Dancing is to recorded music and all dances are walked through before being set to music.”
They close over the summer holiday. They celebrated their centenary just before lockdown, a brilliant feat.
The Holderness Folk Dance Club. Meets on Mondays at Coniston Village Hall, Swine Lane, Coniston HU11 4JS Beginners welcome, accompanied or alone. Further info from Richard on (01482) 871271 or visit http://www.holdernessfdc.btck.co.uk . First visit free.
folkdance.me is a recently launched website has been created to help people find English Folk Dance activities near Kingston upon Hull and other places within the County of Yorkshire.
The Hull Regency Dancers meet in St Columba’s Church Hall, Laburnum Avenue, East Hull at 7 p.m. on Friday evenings. If you fancy dancing in the style of Jane Austen or Mr D’Arcey you are most welcome. They have a break in summer.
The Yorkshire Folk Arts Directory: As it’s name suggests, it covers folk clubs, dance teams, from all world disciplines operating in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Well worth a browse for anyone interested in folk arts. We are listed too! http://www.yorkshire-folk-arts.com/index.html
Folktalk: A directory of folk activities covering Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire. http://www.folktalk.co.uk/talk2.htm
Freaks in the Peaks: Informal learning and dancing weekends. Beginners are welcome and it is a useful introduction for people wanting to “dip a toe in the water”. http://www.freaksinthepeaks.com/
Whitby Folk Week: The place to see all forms of traditional dance. http://www.whitbyfolk.co.uk/
Yorkshire Garland: Collection of traditional songs http://www.yorkshirefolksong.net/
Not The White Horse Folk Club: Meet mainly at the Conservative Club, North Bar Without, in Beverley, 8.00 p.m. Monday nights (closed Bank Holidays). They do move about a bit so check the website before you go. http://www.whfolk.co.uk/home.htm
The Minerva on Hull’s riverfront hosts occasional sessions and Morris dance outs. http://www.minerva-hull.co.uk/
The Ship Inn, Dunswell (Between Hull & Beverley): Hosts occasional Morris Dance outs. http://www.shipsquarters.co.uk/
The Tiger Inn, Beverley: Hosts regular sessions and occasional Morris dance outs. www.tiger–inn–beverley.co.uk
Hessle Ceilidh Band: Play music for traditional ceilidhs, otherwise known as barn dances or country dances. http://hessleceilidhband.com/
Other websites by the webmaster
http://www.morrisminors.wordpress.com A site for teachers and youth leaders who want to introduce traditional dance, music and song to their curriculum.
www.onlyinhull.wordpress.com A poetry site, mainly humourous. Many of the poems were performed in Spain by Hull born Terri Horvath.
http://www.withbelzon.wordpress.com A dedicated website concerned with the Kingston Upon Hull Day of Traditional Dance. A once a year spectacular. Why not have a look at the gallery?
Makara Morris 
