Willy Wacking Dance

Subject: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Stepper
Date: 16 May 04 - 05:44 PM

Does any one have the notation for a Border Morris DAnce known as willy wacking? There may be several versions but any will do.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 17 May 04 - 01:29 AM

Look in the Black Book (Lionel Bacon), it's the Brimfield stick dance.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 May 04 - 03:50 AM

How did I know my husband would know the answer?.....

If you can't find a copy of the dance, ask at C# House, they're very helpful there.

LTS

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 17 May 04 - 04:28 AM

There's a rude version of the dance "Bean Setting" called "Tool Setting" - I think it originated with Albion Morris. The sticks are held at a somewhat lower position than in the original Headington dance and the knock-around is accompanied by Oohs and groans.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 May 04 - 04:40 AM

And just who do you think Manitas dances with (other than East Saxon Sword)?

I have seen them do the dance, the sticks are held at that height because they can't get them any higher and the groans are due to old age and back pain rather than any erotic content. Manitas is the second youngest and he's only 2 years off his half century!

LTS

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 17 May 04 - 07:53 AM

Do they still also dance the "Monty Python" inspired "Brain Setting" version ? All but the last man (who wears a tin helmet) wear knotted hankies on their heads, all but the penultimate man (who has a stick) have rolled up newspapers. They keep shouting out "My brain hurts" and in the knock-around successively hit each other over the head so you get a series of thwacks followed by a clang.

Manitas is the second youngest and he's only 2 years off his half century

Bloody youngster ! - I'm only 3 weeks off my 60th birthday.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 17 May 04 - 08:46 AM

"Tool Setting" sounds very like the Border Morris stick dance I learned at Pine Woods about 20(ish) years ago -- it was called "Maiden's Prayer"...

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 17 May 04 - 08:53 AM

We don't do 'Tool Setting' but we do the 4 poster bed which starts off as a very serious dance until the first chorus where we perform grotesque and silly actions.

I think the dance Liz is referring to is Ring of Bells.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Selchie - (RH)
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:54 AM

The dance is Brimfield (cock knocking) details of stepping & notation can be found in Dave Jones' book 'The Roots of Welsh Border Morris' together with the history of all the original Welsh Border dances.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: treewind
Date: 18 May 04 - 02:44 PM

Certainly not Ring o'Bells (not the Lichfield one anyway, don't know if there is any other)

"Maiden's Prayer" - or Brimfield - yes, surely that's the one, or something like it.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:26 PM

Just a cheap shot but isn't all dancing basically about sex?

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:34 PM

Treewind,

Albion don't do Brimfield. The dance Liz is referring to must be Ring of Bells because it's the only one we do where the sticks are held still for any length of time - I'm referring to the end of the chorus where the sticks are held waist high and level and each dancer hits the stick to his right.

I did say in the 2nd post of this thread that the dance Stepper was asking about is the Brimfield Stick Dance so I'm not confusing them.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Little Robyn
Date: 18 May 04 - 03:57 PM

Sounds like one we do called Bashing the Bishop - to the tune of Saturday Night On.
In the chorus the sticks are held at a suggestive height and position and first the Squire's side hits the bagman's side, then the others have a turn. You can put in groans or screams if you wish and some dancers move their stick to make it appear as if it's getting shorter.
I've even seen it done gently, with a caressing motion and very suggestive vocal effects.
But when we dance for a family type audience, we can do it with plain sticking, none of the rude stuff.
Robyn
Hawke's Bay's Heart of the Sun Morris side.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 May 04 - 06:11 PM

Hey look, seen one morris dance, you've seen 'em all!

You didn't mention anything about obscene lyrics though!

LTS

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 May 04 - 06:16 PM

Steady on Liz, this is scarry talk.

You might take the man out of morris but you can't take .........

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: LadyJean
Date: 19 May 04 - 12:11 AM

The morris dancers I have known took themselves SO seriously. This is wonderful!

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 19 May 04 - 04:58 AM

Both "Tool Setting" and "Brain Setting" were silly version of the Headington Quarry dance "Bean Setting" and used the same tune.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: GUEST,E.E.C. Sexual Equality Commission
Date: 19 May 04 - 10:08 AM

The existance of this dance has only recently come to our notice. At an emergency meeting of this commission, a resolution has been passed banning any performance of this disgustingly sexist ritual. From now on any willy's being wacked will be subject to immediate removal and confiscation.

Amelia Penis-Envy, Chairperson.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Green Man
Date: 19 May 04 - 10:33 AM

The dance is Brimfield (cock knocking) details of stepping & notation can be found in Dave Jones' book 'The Roots of Welsh Border Morris' together with the history of all the original Welsh Border dances.

I knew Dave, lovely bloke and a real expert on Morrish ( correct pronunciation after three pints of shpeckled hen.)

GM

:-)

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 May 04 - 02:05 PM

Of course, Prince Alberts Morris version of this dance has had to be banned under the public decency act, but they will do private viewings.

(Prince Albert are billed as an 'S&M side - they dress in leather, PVC, rubber, chains, whips etc..... and they don't use ordinary sticks.... you get the picture).

LTS

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 19 May 04 - 02:41 PM

In our Morris side "The Widders" (Welsh Border Morris With Attitude) we call it "Knobcracking"

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Stepper
Date: 19 May 04 - 07:37 PM

I shall look it up guys, thanks for the info,watch this space you may yet see a feminist version of the dance :0

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 May 04 - 05:24 AM

Liz - I think I can guess why they're called "Prince Alberts Morris" . . . . . .

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Amos
Date: 20 May 04 - 02:29 PM

Was he famous for his angle, then?

A

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: GUEST,Guest, E.E.C. Gender Rights Commision
Date: 20 May 04 - 11:49 PM

Dear Amelia,

We vigorously & most strongly disapprove of your Committees interference in this matter.

Esoteric sexual tastes of this sort are enshrined in both European custom, & European Law, & did such not exist in the U.K. then Legislation would, out of necessity, be Enacted to Enforce such Perverted Arts.

Should investigation show that there is no equivalent Female-based practice, then Funding will be made available, & if that proves to be insufficient incentive, it may be necessary to make it a Legal Requirement, under E.E.C. Regulations pertaining to Gender Balance.

Yours,
P. Ointless,
Acting Chairperson, E.G.R.C.

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: Snuffy
Date: 26 Oct 05 - 04:53 PM

Monster Willy

Subject: RE: Willy Wacking Dance
From: jonm
Date: 26 Oct 05 - 05:57 PM

.... and they call it a fertility ritual?

.... or was that a futility ritual?