Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail Summer Solstice Celebration 2014

Jeff celebrates the solstice by reaching for the sun.

We take a break from dancing and break into song.

Doug in action.

Fred the high stepper.

Fred vs. Fred

Morris dancers in the media

We have danced at Washington Park in Albany twice this month, and both times, photos were published in the Albany Times Union.

Our May Day festivities were the subject of the article "Morris Dancers welcome spring," which included 10 photos and a video.

After the May 11 Tulip Festival, two collections of festival photos were posted.

The first, "Photos: Tulip Festival" by Cindy Schultz, included two photos of us (numbers 33 and 34):

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Photos-Tulip-Festival-4508393.php#photo-4613964
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Photos-Tulip-Festival-4508393.php#photo-4613965

The second, "Were you Seen: Tulip Festival," by Brian Tromans included three photos of us (numbers 101, 104, and 219):

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Were-you-Seen-Tulip-Festival-4511421.php#photo-4619906
http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Were-you-Seen-Tulip-Festival-4511421.php#photo-4619902
http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Were-you-Seen-Tulip-Festival-4511421.php#photo-4619907

Two Brooks Tour, 2013

Each year, the Pokingbrook Morris Dancers and the Hart's Brook Garland Women spend a day touring together.  We call this the Two Brooks Tour.  The two teams take turns hosting.  This year, it was Hart's Brook's turn to host, so Pokingbrook traveled to the Pioneer Valley area of Massachusetts to enjoy the festivities Hart's Brook had planned for us.

We started by gathering at the Cushman Market and Cafe.  As we were gathering, our musicians played some tunes.

Next, we paraded through the streets.  Our musicians played.  We marched in time to the music, the garland women moved their hoops in time to the music, and the stilt walkers swirled their capes in time to the music.  Our destination was the Cushman Scott Children's Center, where we performed a few dances as part of their 30th anniversary celebration.

From there, we moved on to the Sunderland Public Library.

We had lunch atop Mt. Sugarloaf, and enjoyed the views of the Pioneer Valley.

From there, we went on to dance at Laurel Park in Northampton.  Several other local Morris groups joined us.

Pokingbrook:

And Sometimes Y:

Hart's Brook:

Stick in the Mist:

Morning Glories:

Each group danced several dances.  Then Stick in the Mist and Pokingbrook did a dance together (Mr. Dolly).  Then everyone -- Morris dancers and audience members, got into a circle to dance Shepherd's Hey.  Then we gathered around the Maypole, each of us taking a ribbon.

Wehn the ribbons slid down the pole, one of the musicians shimmied up the pole to put them back in their place at the top of the pole.

As we danced around the May pole, weaving the ribbons around the pole, the ribbons got lower and lower. Soon they were just above the heads of the musicians.

Then the musicians had to crouch down.

Then we were done.  The musicians scooted out from under the ribbons, and we finished wrapping the ribbons around the pole.

While we were at Laurel Park, we enjoyed seeing the flowers and trees.