On Saturday, 15 June many of our Morris dancing members attended Boudica Morris’s Day of Dance in Hadleigh. Each team performed through the rain showers in the Market Square to a large appreciative audience. All teams then processed round the Church grounds. The dancers then split into smaller groups and performed at four town venues, three of which were pubs. The traders welcomed the influx of people to their shops, especially the cafes and public houses.
At the time of writing this article it is still June and we are all looking forward to going to The Compasses, in Littley Green, Essex for our Step Dance and Jig Doll Day. We are expecting the pub to be packed with both performers, and onlookers and it is promising to be one of our best Step Dance events yet.
We are manning a stall at Folk East again this year please come over and say hello.
We’ve made more progress with our planning for the Stowmarket Traditional Music Day on 21 September. We have signed up even more performers who will be entertaining during the daytime and evening. Huge thanks to the Town, District and County Council and Community Development who have delved into their pot to help fund the event. We have called the project Stowmarket on Show. Due to the generous funding we are able to offer all the day time events for free, which will be workshops, concerts, talks, jig dolls, and step dancers. Local singing groups, local musicians and schools will be taking part in the entertainment too. Up to 15 teams of Morris dancers will be livening up the centre of the town with their music, dancing and bright costumes. Look out for them at the Market Place, the Meadow Centre near Asda, the Queens Head and several other dance spots within the centre of the town. The dancers proved very popular last year and many people have already told me they are looking forward to coming to watch.
During August we will asking shop owners in the town to display our gaily painted model jig dolls in their windows together with our posters and programme of events. Look out for these.
During the evening several local pubs will be ringing with the music of session musicians whilst ticketed concerts will be held at the John Peel Centre, and The Royal British Legion.
Please look on our website for upcoming events and venues: www.eatmt.org.uk, email: info@eatmt.org.uk or ring: 07495 054 669.
Jan Robinson