onjunction with City of York Council and other local teams, invite a rich
variety of traditional dance sides from all over the country to join in a
non-competitive celebration of the diversity of ritual dancing. The Festival
occupies the first weekend of September. The Saturday begins with a colourful
dance procession from the Guildhall to Parliament Square, before the teams
separate to dance on site, in King’s Square and St Sampson’s Square throughout
the day before a final grand show in front of dignitaries. The Sunday dancing
is less formal, taking place in St Sampson’s and King’s Square on the Sunday
morning. Over the years we have had representatives of all the leading
traditional team styles: the stick and hanky Morris of the Cotswolds, the large
clog-stepping sides of the North West, the intricate weaving Yorkshire
Longsword, the country-dance like East Anglian Molly, the bizarre costumes and
disguises of Welsh border Morris and the swift interlacing of Northumbrian
Rapper sword. This year’s Festival details are to be confirmed. We'll be
inviting teams from all round England to join in this celebration of English
Traditional dance, hosted by local team Ebor Morris. The two other local sides
Acorn Morris & Minster strays should be in attendance, together hopefully
with old favourites such as Brackley Morris from Northamptonshire.
A Yorkshire Celebration.*2009 sees some of
the world's finest performers gather at York Minster for a charitable musical
celebration of the county of Yorkshire. Taking place on Saturday 10th October
at 7.30PM, The King's Singers are joined by the Brighouse & Rastrick Band,
David Childs (euphonium) and host Frank Renton of BBC Radio 2. All proceeds go
to The Yorkshire Foundation. Contact York Minster Box Office for tickets.
Illuminating York 2009 Discover York in a
New Light.23 October
