Great Ormond Street Hospital - May 3

 The first Tuesday in May is our For our annual visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital's Scout Troop.  As usual, there's a familiar bunch of leaders, and whichever children are in hospital are in hospital and ready/able to to do scouting.

We danced some (ahem) three-man Morris, interspersed with  talk and discussion.

One young scout congratulated James on being really good at playing melodeon.

Then a little chat about the importance of traditional instruments was suddenly drowned out by.... Jeremy's sax.

This led into a Nutting Girl, the only bit we got photos of, as James had his hands free.

The scouts joined in from some stick dancing - Balance the Straw and Young Collins - with the "simplified hey" that makes ad hoc mixed ability Morris so much more possible. Just replace the hey with a "whole gyp" like movement, and suddenly no one goes wrong, and Morris can be danced by any number....

[Jeremy assures us that this is all perfectly acceptable for Morris scholars, as we are simply evolving the dance backwards to its courtly roots in the Inns of Court in London]

We lowered the flag with the scouts,  and went for a drink with the Scout leaders. Thank you Great Ormond Street Hospital, for having us once again....

May Morning, Primrose Hill

How lovely! Well, Peter and Peter couldn't be there, but a good number of London Pride, Belles of London City and Sharp Morris were there at 5.32, for a crisp and beautiful sunrise. 

There was dancing, and then there was breakfast at Cecil Sharp House. Nice work everyone!

St Mary's Church Hendon - Music Festival

Starting the season, we danced at the Music Festival of St Mary's Church Hendon.

We were on immediately after an Evensong which featured a lovely choir singing good anthems, and a beautiful string quartet.

For our part, we danced in the church - hats off, including the Bampton sidestep medley and some Fieldtown dances.

The congregation joined us for Bonnie Green, we danced Lord of the Dance outside, and then adjourned to the Greyhound.

We had a lovely welcome, and liked the place a lot.