Dance Like a Girl
Even if You are only a boy
Fight like a Girl by Emilie Autumn
Facepaint Tips When I first started dancing I was simply handed some Facepaint and told to wear it (but in a polite way). So here are some of the thing I have learnt.
Apply a basecoat This will make it easier to take off at the end of the day. And can prevent staining. In summer this should be a high factor sun protection, and in winter a lower factor sun protection or moisturiser will work well to protect your skin from irritation.
Block colours Achieved by using sponges to dab the paint on, creating a smooth finish by adding layers and repeating the motion on the same spot. Wet the paint first and when needed apply water to the sponge (preventing the paint pan becoming over saturated). When it comes to sponges anything goes, makeup sponges create an even finish but don’t last as long as more porous sponges (such as kitchen sponges) because they hold water for much longer.
Creating patterns Water colour brushes work well to apply any water based face paint. But Only use a small amount of water, this will prevent the design running which helps to create stronger/cleaner lines and allows the effective use of paper stencils.
Lipstick Seriously, liquid matt lipstick is a gift! A number of brands have come out with very wide colour ranges, including bright blues, greens, purples, yellows, blacks, and so on. They are brilliant because they can last pretty much all day, and are more resistant to water allowing you to eat and drink without the fear of ingesting too much Facepaint or having to constantly reapply.
Example Sharp lines achieved by gently apply tape as a guide, removal reveals a clean line.
Design based on previous drawings
Slim brushes used for the details. Overall not a lot of water was used, so the colours came out strong and lines clean. Adding more water can create some lovely mottled and faded effects.
Treats to keep us warm. Ginger Gin A revitalising tincture, especially good for the winter months - ‘most efficacious in every way’! This recipe was collected from the Kemp’s Men of Norwich, but so popular a libation is this miraculous liquor that it has been discovered as far north as Huddersfield. Once the ginger is sufficiently steeped, it can be enjoyed with ice cream, or perhaps even in a cake. Ingredients: 70cl bottle of dry gin 350g of stem ginger in syrup
Equipment: Large jar/bottle, >1litre Muslin cloth
You will also need Patience enough to wait 21 days!
1.) Dice the stem ginger into cubes of approx 1cm3 and place into a large jar or bottle. 2.) Introduce the gin to the ginger, as well as the remainder of the syrup. 3.) Seal the jar/bottle and shake well (most important this is carried out in the proper order!) 4.) Leave for approximately three weeks, save for occasional agitation. 5.) Strain the gin through the muslin cloth and decant.
Cinnamon Oat Cookies A sweet and warming treat, providing much needed energy. 85g of spread
85g of plain flour
75g of white sugar
2g of bicarbonate of soda
85g of light brown sugar
2 tsp of ground cinnamon (or to taste)
1 large egg 2 tsp of vanilla extract
125g of rolled oats Icing sugar for dusting
1.) Preheat the oven at 200â °C 2.) In a large bowl cream the spread with both white and brown sugars until smooth before adding the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fluffy. Fold in the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Finally stir in the oats (at this point you could add in 75g of chocolate or dried fruit, if you wanted). The mixture should hold together and not be too runny, if it is on the runny side add a little more flour or oats. 3.) Using a teaspoon drop the mixture onto a baking tray (use baking paper to prevent it from sticking), to get fairly even cookies use the spoon to push the mixture into a little ball, which should hold together. 4.) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. When they are out of the over they will be very soft, and can easily fall apart (they firm up as they cool), so leave for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 5.) When cool they can be decorated with a dusting of icing sugar.
Karen Waites Fine artist/Art Teacher Started dancing Northwest clog with Blackwater Morris and later on hedge betty, after she moved to the west midlands. Taking a long break from morris dancing she moved to Lincolnshire and joined Bourne Borderers with her daughter. This porcelain figure was created at a ceramic workshop, and based on her sketches of border morris dancing.
Bourne Borderers Weekend of Dance. Photo: John Bird
Advice from Flower Beard MY MORRIS SIDE ALSO DOES A MUMMERS PLAY AND THEY WANT ME TO JOIN IN, IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? Ideally not. Now, I don’t have a problem with those who decide to get involved in mumming, I have even done it a couple of times (less dancing and more pub time). Maybe watch the play first, give yourself some idea of what you are getting into. Also try no let them add an extra character just for you. Sitting through a play with an endless number of characters can be a drag. Oh and try to keep the costume simple! You need to be able to see. Adding to this, don’t take it seriously. It will go wrong… That apparently is part of the charm.
HOW MANY DANCES SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE I AGREE TO DANCE IN PUBLIC? Surely one is enough. Don’t push yourself, and don't let the team expect too much of you. If you want to learn more dances that is fine, just remember that you don’t have to. This Is just a hobby.
What is the optimum number of layers to keep you warm but still allow freedom of movement to dance? For the coldest days I think 3 layers should be enough, comprising of a thermal, a tshirt, and then the outside layer, coats can be carried for when you finish dancing. Border dancers should remember that rag coats are the warmest kit, but you cannot put a coat over easily. Wearing extra socks is useful, so are gloves and scarves because these areas will cool down the fastest. Simply make sure you keep your core warm! If you are out and the clothing isn’t enough, I can recommend hot drinks (which I top up with a little bit of whiskey) and a fast retreat to the closet public house.
SHOULD I MAKE MY DOG A MORRIS KIT? No. There is often a slightly grumpy looking dog in a coat at morris events. If you really feel the need to match with your doggo then keep it simple, some ribbons on the lead/harness or attach side badges/rosettes to the collar/harness. The only benefit to have a dressed up dog is that it will distract attention from the humans in the side.
Dance Notation When it comes to writing dance notation we have noticed the variety of different ways it can be done. Each of theses methods have pros and cons, they will also work differently for different people!
We want to have a look at a few ways of doing it, taking note of their uses. To do this we have put a Back to Back into 2 of the different forms of notation we have come across, this time we will focus on a written step by step description and an illustration of the movement. The usefulness of these methods will be discussed. Looking at their clarity, how they might be used to describe different types of movement, and how the flow of the dance might be affected. Overall we seem have found that the best form of notation will use more than one method, putting illustrations with a written description allowing it to be understood by the widest range of people (including those who have never danced before) and describe the widest range of movements.
Step by Step Back to Back (16 Steps) 2 Steps
Pass partner by the RIGHT shoulder
2 Steps
Side step LEFT
2 Steps
Step backwards past partner
2 Steps
Hover in starting place
2 Steps
Pass partner by the LEFT shoulder
2 Steps
Side step RIGHT
2 Steps
Step backwards past partner
2 Steps
Hover in starting place
This requires breaking the overall movement up into shorter movements, then listing the number of steps (or bars of music if you want, but we aren’t really into that). this method is very easy to read and follow. letting you know the direction the dancer needs to travel in and clearly stating how long it will take to get there. However it might be difficult to break very complex figures up like this, or explain complex shapes/patterns. It can also result in figures becoming regimented, which works well if that is the required style but might not always be ideal as it could take some of the fluidity out of the movement. For first time dancers this style might be helpful in its clarity but they may end up counting steps and not listen to the music, which is essential for a dancers overall development.
Illustration Back to Back (16 steps) Right Shoulder (8 Steps)
1
2
Left Shoulder (8 Steps)
1
2
Key : Direction Facing End Position
- Top of the triangles Start Position
This method looks at the shape of the movement, allowing you to clearly see the shape you would be following on the floor. It can be broken into smaller parts showing direction changes or when meeting another dancer (say to clash). Illustrations are useful when trying to describe complex or circular movements which are difficult to put clearly into words. However they often require a key, to help the viewer understand the direction of travel, where each dancer is, and to highlight pauses/ clashes. If standardising the notation of a team the key should remain the same across the dances. Without breaking down the number of steps for each short movement the figure can be interpreted differently, making it possible for people to be in slightly different places while dancing (although while practicing this can be rectified). Not having to count steps can improve the flow of the dance. Helping to teach new dancers to listen to the music for cues instead of focusing on counting, which would improve their overall timing but might mean they take longer to learn a figure overall.
Whittlesea Strawbear Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival Begun in 1980, this festival has grown into an event of international fame, attracting up to 40 Morris, Molly, Sword, and Mumming sides each year. The premise of the festival, to ‘follow the bear’, is based on local custom historically practiced by impecunious labourers on the day following Plough Monday. The bear, which was an elected member of the fraternity covered entirely in the finest straw from the previous harvest, was a token used for the soliciting of money and largesse. Nowadays, the festival is a central part of the town’s calendar, attracting thousands of spectators, and is a much-welcomed disruption of the bleakness of January. We Follow The 2018 event through the lens of Bob Edge, musician, morris tart, and keen photographer.
The bears and their handler
A green man (above) and white rose (below) during the procession.
Gog Magog Molly (above) and Old Glory Molly (below) at the Black Bull Inn.
Earlsdon morris at the boat (above) and meeple Molly (below).
A Morris Welcome Shards of broken glass, shattered neighbourhood, mewling cats and that off tobacco smell, hearts unsteady in this world that’s unwell. Hold, pause, this solo walk through lonely wood. Enter in to what is and what should lift the chin, break links with this burning hell, no cotton wool charm but unity spell.
Doors swing open on hall that’s safe, that’s good. Swiftly sticks are grasped for heart-warming clatter, loneliness broken as figures are weaved, the musicians strum, squeeze uplifting song. Hall joins melody as light feet patter in movements known and those newly achieved. Dancers jig, confident that we belong.
Dave Green
For our readers It has been a very busy few months for us, with getting our new badges ordered, collecting stories for you to enjoy, a variety of morris events, and making time for ourselves over christmas. We hope you all had a wonderful time, and are ready for the year ahead. Thank you to Karen Waites, Matt Simons, Dave Green, Bob Edge and John Bird, for your contributions. We believe the more voices we have the more interesting this will be. If you want be a part of this please get in touch, we take all kinds of contributions. Next issue will be released 29th of April. Thank for your continued support! With love, Cute as Folk
& the dance like a girl team
We have badges! If you ever wanted a lovely enamel pin badge of our logo, they now exist! Where might you get one? Holmfirth— May 11th to 13th
JMO Peterborough— May 19th Gate to Southwell— June 7th to 10th Potty Festival Sheringham — July 2nd & 3rd More tBc
Fancy a summer meet-up? We are thinking of having a small meet up during Potty festival in Sheringham, probably after dancing on Saturday. More details to be arranged.
Contact us: Facebook: @dancelikeagirl Email: dancinglikeagirl.caf@gmail.com
Thank you, See you next time.
Cute As Folk