Black Adder is a mixed side
founded in 1984. Our dances are based VERY loosely
on the North West tradition.
From the beginning we have tried to adopt
a vigorous, high stepping, style of dancing and most of our dances are
original to the side.
We
meet
every Thursday of the
month between 8-10pm at Cotteridge Church
in
Cotteridge, Birmingham,
B30 3EJ (beside the mini roundabouts on the Pershore
Road South).
On the first Thursday of the month, however, the dancers don't always meet,
although the musicians
may. Holidays from dancing happen in August, Christmas/New year
and occasionally other school-linked times.
Black Adder has begun a new idea recently - to learn
folk songs/carols for use on our dance out sessions later in the
year. We are experimenting with practising on the occasional
first
Thursday of the month and on other days for this purpose.
Black
Adder has been into
schools and educational establishments,
particularly recently,
to teach young people between 6
and 16 the art of morris dancing - to have fun, provide exercise for rather unfit kids
and help keep the tradition alive
in the future!
Our Kit:
Red dungarees
and gold
shirts
were a very significant part of our kit for 20 years. In 2005,
however, we
decided to change to black
trousers, gold
shirts
and waist ties
and colourful rag
jackets which we
personalise. We also
have gold
sticks
decorated with black,
red and gold
ribbons and bells.
We wear black hand-made
leather clogs, often
with red
laces and many of us add bells to these.
Our musicians wear black and
some wear original hats - one is a work of
art!