The Iron Spring Morris, which took part in the recent celebrations to mark 70 years of Her Majesty the Queen being on the throne, saw experienced local dancers come together to perform for the celebrations, but now the organisers are hoping to re-establish a permanent ‘side’ in town.
“There was a long-standing group, the Royal Borough Morris, which disbanded.
“They were mainly the Cotswold style – you largely wear white and dance with hankies and sticks,” local dance teacher Liz Scholey told the Times.
“Then we set up the (High Brooms) Brooms Bricks & Bowlers (BBB) which ran for a few years,” she added.
“But BBBs was Border Morris, which are dances from the Welsh Borders, in a heavier style. They often wear rag jackets.
“These dancers were industrial or agricultural workers who danced in their down time to make money, as begging was illegal. It was a much fiercer, more downbeat style.
“The Iron Spring is a Border side, with sticks, simple steps, but quite exuberant.”
The first members of The Iron Spring came from members of BBB, practicing for about five weeks before the Jubilee, but if they manage to attract new members, the side can rehearse through the practice season, starting in September and be able to perform next summer, said Liz.
Performance is the purpose of a side, she said, stressing, “We mostly dance in public.
“Traditionally, this starts after May Day [May 1], but it can happen earlier, for example St George’s Day [April 23].”
She and a partner got The Iron Spring Morris together for the Jubilee, naming it in honour of the Chalybeate Spring at Dunorlan Park, where they performed and designed the rust-orange costumes to match.
“We wanted to connect it with the town somehow,” she told the Times.
Despite the Iron Spring name, the new side is likely to be based in Southborough rather than Dunorlan Park, but the group will definitely be part of the town’s local heritage.
As a dance teacher and dance caller, Liz’s work is firmly rooted in traditional culture, which includes organising barn dances and ceilidhs along with her husband, Town Crier John.
