Meavy-based Dartmoor Border Morris will be celebrating the start of the new summer dance season with a special performance on the wilds of the open moors as the sun rises on Mayday — Sunday May 1.

After appearing all day at the Green Man Festival in Bovey Tracey on Saturday, April 30, Dartmoor Border Morris will be dancing at 05.15am in the car park below Leedon Tor on the Yelverton to Princetown road as the sun rises around 05.42 am on May 1. This will be followed by a full English breakfast at the Foxtor Cafe at Princetown.

The group of plucky dancers and musicians have been in hibernation for almost two years due to the restrictions of covid and survived through Zoom meetings and when allowed, meeting up in members gardens for a music practice.

They reformed properly  in September last year and found they had gained 11 new members.

Their spirit was boosted when they managed to publicly crowdfund the purchase of Morris & Molly, a pair of model otters from the Dartmoor Otter trail which can be seen in the Royal Oak Inn, which is the Morris side’s second home.

The group of mixed ages and backgrounds have also been sponsored again by the Black Farmer company.

‘Morris dancing is part of English tradition that is lost in the depths of time,’ said member Mark Tregaskis. ‘It is a great way to connect with good music and keep fit. For some people it`s the experience of playing music in a open setting with a audience that they enjoy, for others it’s a great way to enjoy life and be slightly rebellious with it.

‘With all that’s going on in the world, Morris dancing is a great distraction for a couple of hours.

‘With feathers in our top hats, bells around the shins and a picture of a sheep painted on our faces, what’s not to like about being different?’

Dartmoor Border Morris wear tatter jackets that reflect the colours of Dartmoor, with the green of the grass, purple heather, yellow of the gorse and blue of the sky, with black trousers that represents the peat and working boots, as ‘border’ Morris comes from the industrial area between England and Wales

‘We also dance with sticks made of ash, not hankies,’ added Mark. ‘The only exception, is our Green man, who wears the same kit, but is all green, even his face! Oh, and look out for our mischievous Morris beast, Chatterley.’

The Morris side will be collecting for the Dartmoor Rescue Group whilst out and about They will be dancing with a different Morris side each week ( usually Wednesdays) all over the South West outside local pubs and will also be attending local fairs and county shows too, including the likes of the Tamerton Foliot May Fair, Meavy Oak Fair, Tavistock Pride Festival, the Royal Cornwall show and Widecombe Fair. Keep an eye out as you will never know where they will pop up next!

On Monday May 2 the side will be found at the big Morris shindig called The Black Prince Flower Boat Festival in Kingsand and Cawsand on the East Cornwall coast, starting at 10.30am. On May 4 at the Royal Oak Inn, Meavy with guests Lodestone Border Morris, starting at 8pm.

Dancing usually lasts about an hour followed by a visit to the pubs and sing song.

From there it`s non stop Morris right through the season, with big plans for ‘Pudsey day of Morris’ in Tavistock involving some 220 Morris performers already in the offering for November.

‘So grab your tankard, dancing shoes, musical instrument, the family and come and experience what fun could be had when Morris dancing,’ said Mark.

Check out the website www.dartmoorbordermorris.com or the Facebook page for further details.