In 1981, Manchester Morris Men first danced at a small village called
Broadbottom, on the very edge of Greater Manchester. And we have danced
outside the Community Centre there, every year since, on the Thursday evening
closest to mid-summer. Who would have thought that 25 years later, this would lead to
us dancing in the mountain villages near Granada, in southern Spain.
But earlier this year we received an invitation to go and dance in the Summer Festival in Moclin and surrounding villages. And all because of increasing links between the two villages.
(Moclin castle from the village)
A 5:00am check-in at Liverpool Airport may not seem the best way to start a
weekend, especially as we would be dancing at 10:00pm that night, to avoid the
heat of the day. But an efficient pick-up by our hosts at Granada airport,
a short 25 minute drive to Moclin and
the opportunity for a siesta in the afternoon meant that things were soon back
on track. Friday night saw us dancing both Cotswold and North-west morris
outside one of the two bar-restaurants in the village. And this was followed
by social dancing for both the English and Spanish locals.
(North-west morris, midnight Friday/Saturday, in Moclin)
After a day spent at the Alhambra and in Granada, Saturday evening followed
the same pattern, in the smaller village of Lojilla, which was celebrating its
saint's day -- "fiesta patronales en honor a Santiago".
[PS The Granada Tourism web page I used to check this information
has a photo of what looks remarkably like North-west morris dancers, with sashes
and flowery hats - have a look!]
(Folk Dancing for all, in Moclin)
Sunday was spent in Moclin, with visits to the church and castle, and
a lazy afternoon spent round a pool. Sunday evening we ate with our hosts
at the other bar-restaurant in Moclin, again followed by impromptu morris and
folk dancing.(Manchester MM outside the Bar Califato, Moclin)
(photographs courtesy of Rizgar Homeri & Keith Ashman)
Manchester Morris Men
July 2006