We're always on the lookout for dancers and/or musicians. We're a really friendly bunch and we will help you learn the steps. You'll be surprised at how much you can do in just one session. Head over to our Contact Us page for details of how to get in touch.

If you need any encouragement, here are ten good reasons to join us:

1. The Social Scene

Of course there are exceptions, but you'll struggle to find a friendlier bunch than Morris dancers. Strapping on bells and waving hankies around as a pastime seems to strip away all pretentions and as a result the Morris scene tends to be non judgemental and welcoming and there’s great camaraderie between members of sides. To most Morris sides the ‘Après-Morris’ is just as, if not more important than the dancing itself, and the events they attend will reflect this. You’ll find sides with lots of kids at more family-friendly events, whereas others might be in it for the pub crawls.

2. The Beer

It’s often said that Morris sides are drinkers with a dance problem. Even the most sober of Morris sides (if they exist) will spend much of their time dancing within easy reach of a pub, beer tent or other purveyor of alcoholic beverages. If you’re looking for a hobby that involves visiting lots of great pubs and drinking excellent beer (or other drink of choice) then Morris could be for you.

3. Festivals

Until you join a Morris side and the invitations begin rolling in, you don’t realise just how many festivals and events take place every year. There are few finer ways to spend a Summer weekend than touring pretty market towns, enjoying a few pints, followed by an evening listening to music in the concert marquee. What’s even better is they’re usually free! Most Morris sides will attend a couple of festivals a year around the UK and sometimes even overseas, for which free tickets and camping is nearly always provided, plus half price tickets for partners. A great way to have some cheap weekends away to places you’d probably otherwise never visit and see some great bands along the way.

4. The Dances

Yep, we’ve got to point four before mentioning the actual dancing. As any performer will tell you, being part of a group of people working together to provide a spectacle to an audience provides a buzz like no other. Knowing that the dances and tunes are perhaps hundreds of years old and have been performed for generations will give you a tremendous sense of pride. Also, you get to mess about with ruddy great big sticks and even swords.

5. It's Good Exercise

Okay, it is a pastime that also involves drinking beer and it’s not going to prepare you for a marathon but you don’t see many 70-year-old amateur footballers whereas there are plenty of pensioners who are still active because of a lifelong participation in Morris dancing. It's never too late to start either!

6. It Looks Great On Your CV

Really. Nothing tells potential employers that you’re not hung up about what others think of you quite like having your Morris side listed under "Other Interests" on your CV. Plus you can more or less guarantee they won’t be interviewing another Morris dancer, so they’ll tend to remember you.

7. The Outfits

As you grow up, the opportunities to dress up a bit silly tend to diminish. Not for Morris dancers!

8. Learn A New Skill

For most of us learning new things is challenging and a bit scary. You’re putting yourself into a situation that is probably outside your comfort zone and completely different from anything you’ve tried before. But once it clicks and you’ve taken part in your first dance out, you’ll find the confidence from having learned something new and dancing in public can be quite a boost.

9. Keep An Ancient Tradition Alive

"Ancient" is probably debatable, as is the cultural origins of Morris, but there’s no doubt that it is now firmly entrenched as an eccentric English tradition. If you think it would be a shame for these connections with our past to disappear then join a Morris side and do something about it.

10. It’s Jolly Good Fun!

We're really just summing up all of the points above! Being part of a Morris side will make you friends, help you travel, teach you new skills and let you dress up, drink beer and play with sticks. There aren’t many hobbies that give you all that.