LIGHTS, camera, action — the Lodestone Border Morris dancers are making it to the big screen.

The Tavistock based team was recently asked to provide dancers to perform in a new supernatural film written and directed by James Everett called The Darkness of the Moor.

‘It was a fascinating experience,’ said team member Stephen Newland. ‘We joined several other Morris dancers and musicians from other teams on location filming near Dartmeet.’

The scene required that the dancers were made up with black paint to look like dancers from the past.

‘It was wonderful in make-up’, added Steve’s wife Heather. ‘It was such a thrill to be pampered and to see how the stars are treated. It was exciting to see all the activity that goes into making a film production especially being up close to the main actor.’

The team was taken by runners to a holding area where they practised  their dance routine and then taken onto the set after dark.

‘It was quite eerie,’ said member Pat Mccauley. ‘There was a  group of young girls dressed as May dancers ready to dance around a  maypole, a Beltane fire burning and some standing stones. We rehearsed  a few times and then did a number of takes in different positions. I loved it and everyone enjoyed themselves.’

The shooting ended at midnight.

The film uses the legend of Dartmoor  about a man and his search for his daughter in a bold and exciting way and is billed as a cross between the classic movies Rosemary’s Baby  and The Wicker Man.

The premiere is expected next spring where the group look forward to a lot of red carpet treatment!

If you are interested in joining Lodestone Border Morris go to www.lodestonebordermorris.co.uk. The group dances locally throughout the year.