Seriously Wacky Morris

Subject: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 10:04 AM

I love the Morris - well maybe not enough to actually sign up spend hours learning the dances myself - but I love the fact that lots of other people do. It's so English - dressing up in bizarre clothing and cavorting in public - you can see this same English trait any weekend in any English city, with people dressing up as doctor's and nurses, policewomen, devils,etc. to celebrate stag and hen nights. Of course some Morris sides take the continuation of the precise details of the inherited steps and costumes very seriously and I appreciate that too, but I love the innovation that has grown up in the last few years. These thoughts were prompted by coming across a bit of U-Tubery of Dalek Morris at this years Whitby Folk Week.

Daleks at Whitby

I then found a different Dalek Morris here

More Dalek Morris


and Here

I have seen several wonderful Gothic Morris sides and heard tell of a Rocky Horror Morris side. Is there video of them? My wife suggested that an Elvis Morris team would look good and I would certainly like to see that. What other wacky Morris teams are out there? I'd love to see them.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GUEST,Chippinder
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 10:57 AM

Whacky is OK for a one-off spoof but not for more regular appearances. What would we do for a ceilidh spot if we danced in dalek costume all the time? Go back to whites and baldricks?

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 11:35 AM

I think the Rocky Horror side might possibly be Prince Albert Morris, who dance with codpieces, d***oes and other obviously phallic objects, listed as an 'S&M side'.

Nothing subtle about Prince Albert....

LTS

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: melodeonboy
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 12:09 PM

I loved the dalek clips. We should definitely have that sort of thing at the 2012 Olympics. Those on the "5,000 Morris Dancers" thread should be told.

EXTERMINATE!!!!!

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:06 PM

Googling Prince Albert Morris didn't yield much but Rocky Horror led me back to Mudcat and this alleged Rocky Horror Morris side

Is it really?

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:33 PM

I saw them at Beverley this year - Catter Bassic plays fiddle for them ! - Thats the Ladies in Basques !

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: ClaireBear
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 08:22 PM

White Rat's Morris (in San Francisco) used to be quite the deviant team, even suturing bells to their arms and shins for, um, certain special-occasion dancing opportunities, but their only Youtube clip is quite tame so perhaps they're not so unusually oriented anymore.

Claire

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GUEST,Chippinder
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 03:23 AM

GeoffLawes - is it really Morris or horror?

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: mandotim
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 03:42 AM

There is a tale told of Miskin some years ago of the appearance of a Chav Morris side; perhaps those who were there have photos?
Tim

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Megan L
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 03:46 AM

Chip arent the two words interchangeable * gets coat :p

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GUEST,Chippinder
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 06:10 AM

MeganL - yes indeed the two words are interchangeable sometimes. It would be churlish of me, however, to identify those occasions when the two are synonymous.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: JohnB
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 10:52 AM

I can verify that the White Rats sew their bells to their arms.
We danced with them in 2004 at Rochester. They only did it on the Saturday though.
They also attended the Toronto Morris Ale a couple of years ago and I don't think I saw any sewing that time.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: bubblyrat
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 11:10 AM

Terry---I prefer the Spanish pornographic morris side, Basques in Ladies.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 05:51 AM

Extreme Morris Dancing

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Old Vermin
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 10:53 AM

Windsor Morris dance with flaming brands!

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 02:12 PM

For a few years at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, they had an event called a "Belly off", where Morris dancers competed with belly dancers and various items of clothing and dance moves were sometimes swapped resulting in some hilarious results. Fortunately someone was at the 2008 National with a video camera, and managed to capture some of the results, when my good friends, Black Joak Morris, hammed it up with the local belly dance troupe. The second half is especially funny. Ken is the star with the blue veil, and you can spot Ricarda with the hobby 'oss at the back of the stage as well.

Belly off 2008 National Folk Festival Canberra, Australia

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 05:40 PM

"It's so English "

      OK! Not just English.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 04:20 AM

I'm more impressed by this one - Phosphorus
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 06:03 AM

Which side is that?

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 06:13 AM

Ah, is the side called Phosphorus, rather than 'phosphorus' being an adjective describing the type of dancing?

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 08:33 AM

Don't know - it was just a link from one of the earlier youtube offerings.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Seriously Wacky Morris
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 08:43 AM

Of course, Whitby Scratch Morris are not allowed anything sharp or incendiary...

Quack!
Geoff the Duck.