Last night we attended the opening performance to kick off the summer activities in the John Campbell Folk School festival barn.  Featured groups included the Rural Felicity Garland  Dancers, Sticks in the Mud Border Morris, and Dame's Rocket Northwest Clog Morris.  No one knows for certain the origin of Morris dancing but it's mentioned as far back as the 15th century throughout Europe.   "Border Morris" referred to the traditions of Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire - countries along the border of Wales.  Dancers wore colorful, elaborate costumes with pendant sleeves and attached bells.  By the mid 18th century, dancing became popular with the common folk who couldn't afford the fancy costumes and resorted to ordinary clothing garnished with ribbons and flowers.

 Dancers' procession to the stage

 A seasonal, ritual dance performed by men with painted blue faces, colorful rag coats, and loud leg bells.  Shouting rude taunts, they intimidated the Welsh to avoid crossing the border.

 Felicity Garland Dancers

This white-haired dancer had to be well into her 70's, maybe even 80. 

 Young women from the countryside performed their graceful and elegant style dance bedecked with flowers and colorful ribbons.

  Dame's Rocket Clog Dancers

Named for the Dame's Rocket Flower, an old cottage garden weed, and Olive Dame, John C. Campbell's bride from Massachusetts.

They dance traditional Appalachian-style clogging in leather-soled shoes with taps.

 Dancing to Bluegrass or "old-time" music based on Irish and Scottish-Irish fiddle tunes.

 Folk School resident storytellers

 The final performance of the evening when all three groups blended together on stage.  She looks as if she is enjoying the stick clashing a little too much!

The traditional dance had lots of bowing, hat-raising, and clashing their sticks on the ground.
The dance troupe will be heading to England at the end of June to perform at the Joint Morris Organization's Day of Dance in Stratford Upon Avon and in Kenilworth to celebrate the passing of the Olympic Torch.

Pat and I truly enjoyed this first outdoor performance in the open barn.  It was  rowdy,  festive, and brightly colored.  Larry and Cliff didn't really get into this activity, but they were good sports to accompany us.  After the next performance, we'll treat them to pie and coffee and the Blue Mountain.