Morris dancing on the Southbank (Part 1)
Photos of a Morris gathering on London's Southbank
(Photos ©urban75, 4th September 2010)
I've always had a bit of a spot spot for the much-derided Morris dancers, probably because I can relate to their penchant for drinking loads of ale, dancing around in a shouty manner and waving their hands in the air.
Billed as a weekend full of 'music, dance, art installations and more special events challenging the current image of the Morris dancer in popular English culture,' I went along to check out some of the moves on London's Southbank, camera in hand.
On the bill were 100 of England's best morris dancers including the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris from Nottingham, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly in one of the largest gatherings of Morris dancers in London.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-002.jpg)
Hammersmith Morris Men in full-on stick-clattering action.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-003.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-005.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-006.jpg)
There was a good crowd for the Morris dancing.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-007.jpg)
This dance involved a woman volunteer from the audience getting a load of Morrismen getting, well, a little bit jiggy with her.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-008.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-009.jpg)
Oooh, I say!
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-010.jpg)
I love the reaction from her friends!
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-011.jpg)
By the fire.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-012.jpg)
"The next dance will be over there!"
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-013.jpg)
Watching the action.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-001.jpg)
Having a rest before the next dance.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-014.jpg)
Apparently 'dancing and developing the East Anglian Molly tradition', Gog Magog Molly looked more like a bunch of trance fans heading off to Return to Samsara!
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-004.jpg)
The tradition-challenging Boggart's Breakfast, a mixed (men and women) border morris team based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-015.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-016.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-017.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-018.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-019.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-020.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-021.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-022.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-023.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-024.jpg)
Introducing the next dancers. With a tickle stick.
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-025.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-026.jpg)
Who says Morris dancing can't be sexy?!
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-027.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-028.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-029.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-030.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-031.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-032.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-033.jpg)
![Morris Dancing event on Southbank by the River Thames, with the Hammersmith Morris Men, Mortimer's Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Boggart's Breakfast, Eynsham Morris, Stone Monkey Sword Dancers, Moss Brothers and Gog Magog Molly, London, September 4th 2010](images/morris-dancers-southbank-034.jpg)
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