The Kennet Morris Men perform traditional Morris dances from the Cotswold villages. We are based in the area of Reading, England, and dance throughout Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.
2007 was our 50th Anniversary year. We celebrated it in May with a cruise along the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bath to Reading, dancing at 50 pubs along the way, and in September with a Weekend of Dance.
See our Weekend of Dance tour programme
We completed our Canal Tour - travelling in two narrow boats from Bath on 12th May to Reading on 19th May, dancing at 50 pubs en route. (See our Canal Cruise itinerary.) We would like to record our thanks to:
Photos of our 50th anniversary events can be found on YateleyArts' flickr site.
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| Pub no. 1 - The Huntsman, Bath |
Pub no. 50 - The Hobgoblin, Reading |
Flying Nelson's signal
"England expects that every man will do his duty"
in Portsmouth on our Trafalgar 200 Tour
Our cheque to the Royal Berkshire Hospital children's fund
We perform Morris dances in the distinctive styles that developed in the Cotswold villages of Adderbury, Bucknell, Fieldtown, Hinton, Kirtlington and Sherborne, and farther afield in the City of Lichfield and Upton upon Severn. We are members of the Morris Ring which maintains the records and standards of the various dances. Our dancing season starts on May 1st (at sunrise) and continues through to September. During the season we go out one evening each week (mostly Mondays) to dance at some of the local hostelries. Also on some weekends we can be seen dancing at fetes, shows etc., or we go on tour with other Morris sides. From October to April we meet on Monday evenings to continue practising our dances and to learn new ones.
The origins of Morris are unknown, but no doubt the men will be happy to offer their version of its genesis if asked. One of the first written records of the Morris in our area exists in church accounts in Reading as long ago as 1513. We dance the Morris because we enjoy it, because we want to maintain a unique part of our cultural heritage, and because our audiences are entertained by watching us and participating in the Luck of the Morris.
We are always pleased to welcome new members as either dancers or musicians, to ensure that Morris continues to be danced in the Reading area for many more years to come.
Are you looking for a band and caller for your barn dance? Then look no further than the Kennet Ceilidh Band. For further information and contact details, please click on the following link: Kennet Ceilidh Band.
Dancing in Trafalgar Square, 2nd November 2003
(See more photos)
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For information on the Morris Ring and links to Ring sides, see The Morris Ring
Information on local Morris sides in Berkshire and the
surrounding area (compiled by OBJ Border Morris)
can be found on OBJ's web site at http://www.obj.org.uk
Last updated 28th June 2008
