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
Sunday, May 19, 2013
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Dancing among the apple trees
Once a year in May, our usual practice location is unavailable, so we take advantage of the opportunity to go dance among the apple trees at Riverview Orchards. It's a semi-performance and semi-practice -- we are out in public, but people don't really come to watch. Therefore, we semi- dress in kit. We wear our baldricks and bells over our street clothes.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Tulip festival
At the Tulip Festival, we enjoyed the tulips
And the crabapple trees.
The women danced Tulips, a dance written for the Tulip Festival by Pokingbrook member Bev Seinberg. When you see photos of us with colored hankies, instead of the usual white, that means we are dancing Tulips.
We sacrificed the Morris Cake.
The Pokingbrook men:
Our musicians:
And the crabapple trees.
The women danced Tulips, a dance written for the Tulip Festival by Pokingbrook member Bev Seinberg. When you see photos of us with colored hankies, instead of the usual white, that means we are dancing Tulips.
We sacrificed the Morris Cake.
The Pokingbrook men:
Our musicians:
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May Day, Part 1: Washington Park
We started off our May Day celebrations at 6:30am at Washington Park in Albany. Here are our men dancing Bedlam Boys.
And our women tiptoeing through the tulips:
We dance on May Day in celebration of spring, and Tiptoe Through the Tulips was a fitting song because there were indeed tulips in bloom around us.
And our women tiptoeing through the tulips:
We dance on May Day in celebration of spring, and Tiptoe Through the Tulips was a fitting song because there were indeed tulips in bloom around us.
May Day, Part 2: The Crossings
After dancing at Washington Park, we fortified ourselves with some breakfast, and then headed over to The Crossings of Colonie. We just showed up and started dancing next to the playground. It was sort of like a flash mob, except that if it were a flash mob, we would have started off by blending in with the crowd. In our outfits, we did not exactly blend in.
May Day Part 3: Universal Pathways
The final destination for our May Day revelries was Universal Pathways in Berne.
While there, we danced around the May pole. I don't have pictures of the actual dancing around the May pole, because I was too busy participating, but here are some pictures of people gathered round the May pole.
Then we did some Morris dancing:
The women did some dances, but I don't have any photos or videos because I was dancing. But then when the rest of the women were tuckered out, Ruth did a jig. At the start of the dance, she explained that in Morris dancing, a jig is a duet between a musician and a dancer.
After the dancing was done, we hung out jamming, eating, and enjoying the sunshine.
When we aren't in motion, it's easier to get a look at our hats:
While there, we danced around the May pole. I don't have pictures of the actual dancing around the May pole, because I was too busy participating, but here are some pictures of people gathered round the May pole.
Then we did some Morris dancing:
The women did some dances, but I don't have any photos or videos because I was dancing. But then when the rest of the women were tuckered out, Ruth did a jig. At the start of the dance, she explained that in Morris dancing, a jig is a duet between a musician and a dancer.
After the dancing was done, we hung out jamming, eating, and enjoying the sunshine.
When we aren't in motion, it's easier to get a look at our hats:
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