Adlington Morris Men
Adlington Morris Men are a locally based men's morris side who specialise in 'Cotswold style' dances and who over the years, have earned themselves a great reputation for the standard of their dancing. Adlington Morris Men make a very welcome return to the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival and will be dancing here on Sunday, look out for them in their grey top hats and their red, green and orange ribbons.
www.adlingtonmorrismen.ik.com

The Earl of Stamford Morris
The side was formed in 1982 and was originally called The Earl of Stamford and Nancy's Fancy. (The latter for the women and named after the then landlady of the King William - the local hostelry visited after practices on Tuesdays). The first dance out was at a pub in Altrincham in November 1982.
It was later named The Earl of Stamford Morris after the Earl of Stamford and Warrington (and Lord Delamere). So even though our group has moved from Wilmslow to Moore near Warrington we are still within the "catchment area" of his name. The Earl raised no objection as his line died out in 1979! Our badge is based on his crest. One of the founder members lived at the Earl's seat at Dunham Massey — he wasn't titled, merely son of the NT Administrator! The original Earl of Stamford logo featured a skull and crossbones.
The side dances in the Cotswold tradition and has always been an active member of the Open Morris. We have also attracted dancers from a wide area of Cheshire and beyond. At present we have members from as far afield as Bolton, Rochdale, Stockport, Comberbach and Barnton, as well as the majority from the Warrington and Halton area. Our age range is also wide!
www.earlofstamford.org.uk

Stockport Morris Men
Just look at this lot! A team dancing Morris in the North-West Processional style ...
When the side reformed in 1984 the main membership comprised Dads whose offspring were enjoying themselves too much in the guise of "The Fosbrooks". They practice in the Offerton area of Stockport, Cheshire . The side travels a lot for one day and full weekend events such as village celebrations, folk festivals and period themed events (Victorian fairs). The weekend events usually include camping with grilled food and bottles of "lubricant" when not dancing alongside other invited Morris sides during the day.
www.stockportmorris.co.uk

Clerical Error Border Morris Dancers and Street Entertainers
Spectacular in appearance, led by a dragon, and wielding full-sized pickaxe handles, Clerical Error from North Wales represent all that's best about Welsh Border Morris.

They are a large (30-odd) mixed side with a noticeably vociferous and punchy dance style. Their wide and varied repertoire, performed in flower- and ribbon-bedecked top hats and tailcoats, and backed up by a big gutsy band, makes them an irresistible team to watch.

They attract large audiences, whom they often encourage to join in the dancing. Their performances are further leavened by the inclusion of rackety Mummers' plays, feats of incredible trickery and the escapades of Gwilym, their attention-seeking Welsh Black Bull.

As well as performing at many festivals in Britain and abroad, they have appeared by invitation at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Dublin's St Patrick's Day Parade, and on national television.
www.clericalerror.taffy.org.uk

Mind The Step
Mind the Step was formed in 1990 by a group of dancers wanting to “do something different” and they have been performing their unique style of Appalachian dance at venues all around the country since then! Appalachian dance originates from traditional English, Irish and Scottish clogging and stepping styles as danced by the immigrants who settled in the Appalachian Mountains in North America. The dance form evolved in remote mountain communities and incorporated steps from the dance style of native Indians and former slaves. Mind the Step use traditional Appalachian clogging, stepping and flat footing styles to choreograph all their own dances, drawing inspiration from many sources ranging from the American flag in Liberty to the name of the local pub in Windmills! This energetic and exciting dance form will take your breath away – dancers and spectators!!
www.mindthestep.co.uk

Mortimer's Morris
Mortimer's Morris are a lively women's side based in Nottingham. Founded in 1994, their aim was to perform dances from the North West tradition with vigour, enthusiasm and style. This aim holds true today and the side takes great pride in their dancing and energy. The dancers are accompanied by the 'Mortician's' who create a unique sound with hurdy-gurdy, melodeon, fiddle, accordion guitar, sax, bazouki and whistle. Many of the tunes have a distinctive French flavour, contributing to the uplifting 'Mortimer's Experience'.

Dancers' kit is black skirts and clogs and striking handmade waistcoats in shades of purple. The Band are the cool 'Men in Black'
www.mortimers-morris.org.uk

Persephone
Persephone is a women’s North West Morris team based in West Yorkshire, and this year they are celebrating 30 years of dancing. The team is easily recognised by their bright green and yellow dresses and black clogs with lots of bells. The team wears wooden-soled clogs with leather uppers, similar to those used by workers in the cloth mills of North West England in the 19th century.

Persephone dance in the traditional North West processional style, which is lively and vigorous, and their repertoire includes a wide range of both traditional and specially written dances.
www.persephonemorris.co.uk

Windsor Morris
Windsor Morris are one of the longest established women’s Cotswold teams in the country and can be seen performing their interpretation of Badby, Brackley and the recently introduced Windsor-on-Thames tradition. Their gleaming white kit shows up best in sunny weather so they are hoping for fine weather and no mud at the festival.
www.windsormorris.org.uk

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, performed at the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226, is one of the few ritual rural customs to survive the passage of time. Today the Horn Dance, which takes place annually on Wakes Monday, offers a fascinating day out attracting visitors from all over the world.

After collecting the horns from the church at eight o'clock in the morning, the Horn Dancers, comprising six Deer-Men, a Fool, Hobby Horse, Bowman and Maid Marian, perform their dance to music provided by a melodeon player at locations throughout the village and its surrounding farms and pubs. This means a walk of about 10 miles (or 16 kilometres).

At the end of a long and exhausting day, the horns are returned to the church in the evening.
www.abbotsbromley.com

Triskele Sword
Triskele Sword of Sheffield perform the Rapper sword dance, which is traditional to the coal fields of Northumberland and County Durham. They are a mixed-gender team, formed in 2000 specifically to host and perform at DERT 2002. DERT (Dancing England Rapper Tournament) which is the successor to the formal competitions of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Triskele Sword have performed at every DERT since 2002.

The team takes their name from the three-legged Celtic symbol which represents the interaction of earth, water and sky. The most widely-known Triskele is the crest of the Isle of Man, the 'Legs of Man', which was registered in 1847 as the trademark of the famous Sheffield tool-maker Joseph Tyzack a maker of fine rapper swords for more than 40 years.
www.triskelesword.org