Dancing
Dancing with Black Adder Morris is, first and foremost for fun! Please Scroll down to see the step-hopping and ranting videos.
We look to enjoy ourselves, learn new things, get fitter and entertain. We do not take ourselves very seriously and everyone goes at their own pace with no pressure.
Our practice night begins with a bit of a warm up for dancers and musicians (nothing too serious, but enough to get us all loosened up and ready to go). Then we will usually start with anything that we know and move on to things we are learning, or reminding ourselves of.
One person has the task of running the practice and the dance outs as an official position in the side so that there is continuity and direction. This person has been elected by the side so everyone is ok about it.
Evesham
Buxton
Our dances are loosely based on the North West tradition so we have two main steps that we use. One is the 'step-hop' which you would have done as a child at the very least. It is literally a step and a hop on one foot and then the same with the other, repeated until the end of the dance. Not too tricky.
Our other main step is called a 'rant'. This is much more tricky until you get the hang of it but it does come (like riding a bike) after a certain amount of practice. As it’s a bit long and droney to describe, it’s best to look at the little videos (located below) that we’ve made to show you what to do.
No one learns this straight off and everyone goes at their own rate so it all ends up ok.
On practice nights we wear what we like, (but it is best to wear trainers or other suitable footwear). On dance outs we wear our kit which is (from north to south) a yellow gold polo shirt; a rag jacket (red, gold and black tatters); a yellow gold belt tied in some form of knot around the waist; black trousers and clogs which make a good percussive sound (if we're all together, that is!) We personalise our rag jackets a little to distinguish them from each other . . . and – why not?!
We welcome new people to come and have some fun. No one is pressurised and no one is asked to dance anything they would rather not, or dance out if they are not ready! We are there to enjoy ourselves.
Dance Videos
Scroll up for more information about dancing
Step-hopping
Step Hop Video
The first of our two main steps is this, which you would have done as a child at the very least. It is literally a step and a hop on one foot and then the same with the other, repeated until the end of the dance. Not too tricky, but getting used to the rhythm and doing it in time is the main thing.
Ranting
This is our other main step and is much more tricky until you get the hang of it but it does come (like riding a bike) after a certain amount of practice. As it’s a bit long and droney to describe, it’s best to look at this little video we’ve made to show you how it's done. No one learns this straight off and everyone goes at their own rate so it all ends up ok.
