Having visited several Festivals and events during the last couple of years, I have been both pleased and troubled at the same time.

In terms of "Folk" Music (and please don't start on the "correct" definition - there are other threads for that) - we appear to be doing ok with new blood coming into the scene. There are a great many young singers/musicians, some good, some very good, who will be moving through the scene - carrying on the traddition - and hopefully bringing in further new blood as a result.

In terms of "Morris Dancing", I don't think we can be as comfortable with what is/will be, going on. My Morris Side, Bishop Gundulfs, has been in existance for over twenty five years - we have a full timetable of events, attend several festivals, have a range of performers from a wide variety of backgrounds - however - we are starting to reach a stage where due to rising ages, job commitments etc, that we need new blood.

At this point, let me say that this is NOT a direct plug or recruitment piece! I'm trying to look at the greater implications of what I have just written with regards to the entire Morris Dancing community.

Gundulfs are not alone in this - several sides that I know have had a reduced presence this year due to difficulties in putting out a side due to lack of numbers, injuries, work etc. We have a youngsters' section - ages from 4 to 14 at present, but it will be sometime before the few older ones can move up. Several have been lost at the 17/18 year old stage due to University or "new found independance".

I think that PART of the problem has been that sides have split, broken away - initially working with great success and presence. However, an increase in sides, means that the jam has to be spread thinner. A rough count shows that there are over twenty sides in Kent, whilst counties such as Essex and Sussex have about ten. We will be getting to a stage in the not too distant future, where sides start to seriously curtail their dancing throughout the dancing season or even worse, stop all together.

Many sides have members of 40 years and upwards. They are good, some are very good. They are also often watched by audiences of the same age and above.

Sides may be lucky in that they have one or two "youngsters" - these are often the result of parents who are in the side already.

On my visits to events/festivals, I have noticed sides that have a significant number of teenagers/twenty somethings in ADDITION to us older memebers. To me, it FEELS geographic i.e Shropshire Bedlams, Great Western, Martha Rodhams and The Kingsmen to name a few. These sides have managed to crack something which is going to be vital to the continuation of Morris Dancing in this country.

BUT WHAT IS IT??!!!

Is it the classic "Is Morris Dancing sexy?" Is it geographic? What is it? How do we, and I mean Morris Sides across the board, attract apprentices that will carry on the traddition?

Programmes, leaflet drops, posters, "come and have a go" nights etc etc. All of these seem to have a very low return/success rate.

If you are a member of a side that has had success with this problem, please comment. If you are from "the music side", can your success be transfered to the "dancing side"?

This is an issue that I feel is VERY, VERY important, and we need to be addressing it NOW and not in years to come when it could be TOO LATE!!

Come on folks, let's shake this one by the throat and see if we can sort it out!!!

Kev
Steward for Bishop Gundulfs Morris
Rochester, Kent