FASH CHAT
At the Upton on Severn Folk Festival, we had a survey of the ages of the various Morris sides. Even including three year old Elliot in our side we didn't come out too well. But one side had an average age of twenty six, which is reassuring for the future. If you looked at the average age of your club and compared it with the average age last year, it is probable that it would have gone up and possibly by ten, eleven or even twelve months.
The point is that we need new, younger people joining and to do that we have to interest them and welcome them. The FASH committee have pondered this many times, but there are no simple answers. One thing worth thinking about is the events and clubs that are succeeding in attracting younger people.
Megabops are one such. Having chosen a name that is attractive and doesn't seem too folky, Gill Redmond and Pete Gritton are doing a good job with some lively dances that gather a generally younger audience. Of course 'younger' is a relative term. Rather like the policemen who seem to get younger each year, someone who is young to me is old to another person and vice versa. Anyway, young or old, I recommend that you go along sometime and share the music and dance.
The only other event that I know of in our area that achieves a similar success with younger people is the Twyford Ceilidh. Nigel Close runs these dances half a dozen times a year and they are great fun, with the added bonus of raising some money for charity. Not only was the last one I attended lower in average age range, but it also had to put up 'House Full' signs because it had sold out. So if you want to try these events, ring in advance and book your place. It is wonderful to see events full up with people enjoying themselves.
Now, I appreciate that I only get to a minority of events that go on around southern Hampshire, so if you know of other events that are working well or attracting younger people, or have any good ideas, drop me a line, or better write an article for Solent Waves telling us how to do things better or whatever.
Visiting schools and supporting music and dance is another direction that can work. On May Day this year, Wickham Morris and the New Forest Meddlars visited the three schools (Forest Edge, Scantabout and Swanmore) in which Yvonne and I have been involved in teaching Morris, and one Retirement Home, thus entertaining people from the ages of 4 to 101, as well as greeting the dawn, walking along the sea shore and dancing in Wickham Square in the evening. We also did a paid event, but dancing for the children, and teaching them a dance was much more fun.
The best audience of the day was at Forest Edge Special Needs school, where the children absolutely related to the music, dance, colour and movement, and it was great to be able to help the dedicated staff a little.
With the young Maypole dancers from Wickham, and the Morris dancers from Botley and Swanmore opening the Evening of Dance in the Square, too, perhaps there is hope for the future of folk in South Hampshire!
Are there any more such activities out there?
Dennis Wheeler
Feedback
I recently went to a Playford Dance and the advert said "costume appreciated". So I went in costume and was soon enjoying myself, in a lovely historic assembly room, circulating and dancing with several partners, mostly other ladies! It seemed as if many of the men present had arrived with a dancing partner and perhaps another couple, and only danced with the others of their party.
As the dancing got under way, a party arrived in evening/period style dress, but clearly beginners in the art of dancing. My sister and I went over to speak to them as it seemed as if they did not know anyone else there. We asked them to dance, and helped them through Hunsdon House, with which they would have struggled. However, for the rest of the evening I noticed that not one other experienced dancer offered to take any of them as a partner, they were left to struggle through on their own.
During the supper interval some of the local dancers were bemoaning the fact that they could not attract younger dancers to their Dance Club. They seemed surprised when I said our group, Hampshire Regency Dancers, was attracting many younger dancers.
With the increasing popularity of all things Jane Austen now, more and more people are latching on to the fact that the dances as seen on film and TV can be seen and danced at such public dances as the one I describe. They may not know the dances but they want to learn. How sad then, if they go to such an event and find themselves unable to take a full part in the dances because no-one takes the trouble to help them or make them feel welcome. This is not the way to attract new blood to increasingly ageing Playford Dance clubs.
Perhaps it is no wonder that Hampshire Regency Dancers are getting new people joining us almost every month. The answer is simple – we welcome new dancers and in Regency style dance, the etiquette demands that no man (or lady dancing as man), should dance more than twice with any one partner. Our dances are arranged in pairs, so dancing twice means two pairs of country dances. This ensures that all the dancers have a chance to dance with several different partners, some of whom may be more experienced dancers than others, so everyone helps each other to get the fullest enjoyment out of the evening, whether it is simply a "practice" night or a full blown Ball.
To conclude, I should point out that the dance I am describing did not take place in Hampshire. I have always found Hampshire dancers to be very friendly and welcoming, both at workshops and at Playford Dances and Balls, and always willing to partner a new face. What a pity this is not universal.
Kate Davis
Thank you for so many people turning out for the AGM, and especially Elizabeth Haigh for the delicious cream teas. I especially would like to repeat the chairman's thanks to the "committee spouses", which is thoroughly deserved.For those who couldn't make it, we are very ready to accept anyone who would care to offer a little of their time onto the committee and are in dire need of someone to keep minutes for us. If anyone could assist, we would be very grateful.
The committee is: John Turner, Syd Wilkins, Ian Norris, Lin Rayner, Elizabeth Haigh, Audrey Grasmeder, George Grasmeder, Ted FitzGerald and Dennis Wheeler.
Please feel free to contact any of them if you have an idea or request for a workshop or indeed any thoughts.
Following some successful, slightly different workshops, we are delighted to be able to announce a song harmony workshop with Sarah Morgan coming in February next year and a Morris jig workshop led by Winchester Morris Men on 6th October 2007. Winchester will not only be leading the event and providing music, but will also be laying on lunch for us as well. The lunch was so good last time, that, although it would be a bit of a cheek, it is almost worth coming just to eat!
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Submitted by (to whom technical queries and requests for additional links only) and Edited by Dennis Wheeler, Penshurst, Vicarage Lane, Swanmore, Hants SO32 2PW 01489 892911 editor@fash.org.uk).