Chelmsford Morris dance "May The Fours" at Bromyard Folk Festival 2024

From Chelmsford Morris web page
The Chelmsford Ladies dances come from Lancashire and Cheshire in the north-west of England.
They wear the traditional wooden-soled clogs of the cotton mills where these dances originated and the sound of the wooden soles on the ground is an essential part of the dancing.
The dances are ornamented with a variety of slings, sticks and garlands. Many of the dances have been written in recent times, but they keep the traditional style.

We are a men's and ladies Morris dancing side from Essex in England. Morris dancing is a traditional style of folk dance.
At one time Morris dancing was widespread over rural England, but urban and industrial development led to a decline in the tradition, leaving pockets of quite distinct dances in certain regions.

Morris dancing may have died out had not been for a folklorist called Cecil Sharp who saw one of the last remaining morris sides dancing in 1899.
Sharp set out to record the dances and the music, and noted the recollections of the surviving dancers and musicians.
The publication of work by Sharp and other researchers led to a renewed interest in folk dance and song and has resulted in the Morris becoming a regular spectacle throughout England.

​Founded in 1972 and 1979 respectively, our men's and ladies sides dance all over Essex and beyond with appearances at pub nights, festivals and private events. Some of our past and upcoming appearances include Halesworth Day of Dance, FolkEast festival, Westminster Morris Day of Dance, Moulton Morris weekend, Thaxted Morris weekend and Bromyard folk festival.

Bromyard Folk Festival
Bromyard Folk Festival started in 1968 and sold 150 tickets. Now it is attended by thousands every year. Bromyard Folk Festival’s goal has always been to promote folk traditions by making them as accessible as possible during one weekend of packed entertainment. Acts can be local, award winning national performers and international folk legends. There is a warm family feeling to Bromyard Folk Festival, with entertainment for all ages, plus food, drink and activities throughout the whole weekend.