Hedgemonkey Morris

Bio:

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Formed in 2000 by Kim Brown, Paul Gooding and Bronny Lloyd, Adelaide’s Hedgemonkey Morris has taken Australian Cotswold Morris Dancing into a new era – receiving wide acclaim both in Australia and in the UK (via the magic of modern technology!).

Hedgemonkey dance what is known as 'Cotswold Morris' from the Cotswold Hills in the upper Thames Valley, around Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Most villages in the area could field a Morris team in their day, each having their own distinct style, or in some cases a very similar style to a neighbouring village, which occasionally caused some dissension.

Hedgemonkey's style, or tradition, derives from the village of Ascott-Under-Wychwood. We refer to it as 'Ascottesque', just so those traditionalists won't be too put out, but as tradition to us means 'ever evolving' we hope we are interpreting the essence of the dance without losing its integrity.

Hedgemonkey has maintained the traditional stepping and hand movements peculiar to the Ascott style but has incorporated them into new and exciting dances using original choreography and new tunes. While traditional Cotswold Morris consists of a set of six or eight people (usually in two lines), Hedgemonkey’s choreography features a varying number of dancers forming circular, linear and triangular patterns.

As well as new contemporary dances, the team’s repertoire also includes traditional material to maintain, and indeed strengthen the link with Morris past. The performance is based on high energy, innovation and precision - and the team’s philosophy is simple: strive for a high standard of dance, respect the past and have a good time!

In comparison to that of most traditional teams, Hedgemonkey’s kit is deliberately simple and contemporary, consisting of a white collarless shirt, black jeans, tri-coloured armbands, white shoes and that most distinctive feature of Morris Dancing - bell pads below the knees. The performance is accompanied by live music provided by accordion, recorder and drum.

Hedgemonkey has delighted audiences at major events throughout Australia, including the Woodford Folk Festival, the Australian National Folk Festival, the English Ale, Victor Harbor Folk Festival, Fleurieu Folk Festival and the Port Festival. The side also regularly dances to the music of Adelaide folk rock band Spiral Dance, continuing to bring the spectacle of the Morris to new audiences.

Here's what people have said about us:

‘….highly disciplined dancing'

‘...teamwork and attention to detail'

‘you can hear a pin drop when Hedgemonkey dances…'

‘great innovation giving new life to this ancient dance form….'

‘It's 12.30 on a school night.......will those morris dancers ever leave the pub?….'

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Member Since:

June 29, 2007

Members:

Kim, Bronny, Daniele, Alanna, John, Jill, Fiona, Mel, Liz, Cherie, Val, Rach

Influences:

Windsor Morris, South Downs Morris, Step Back, Outside Capering Crew, Seven Champions, Morris Offspring, Kate Bush, Doctor Who, Percy Grainger, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Phil Everitt, Show of Hands, Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Jim Moray, The Mighty Boosh, Stargate, Mr. Darcy's trousers, Womadelaide, Led Zeppelin, Hastings Traditional Jack-In-The-Green, alcohol, Great Western Morris, Pecsaetan Morris, Eliza Carthy, Saul Rose, Stony Stratford Morris, Mr Jorrocks Morris...and all morris dancers and musicians from times past who paved the way for us.

Record Label:

Unsigned