Anstey Royale Chalfont

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Anstey Royale Chalfont are a women's Northwest morris dance side from Leicestershire. I joined originally as a musician, but they also taught me some of the dances when they were looking to boost their number in order to be able to attend more festivals and dance events.

Inspired by the Northwest Morris style I wrote a dance called High Sharpley which was danced out a few times, but didn't really suit Chalfont's style. I actually danced with Chalfont for one season, but after a while they got some new members, and as they were really a women's side I then joined Sergeant Musgraves Dance.

The dance, High Sharpley was written around about the turn of the Century (in either 1999 or 2000) and at the time I was dancing with Anstey Royale Chalfont. They are a womens side, but I learned their dances so that I could help them out if they were ever short of a dancer. I was inspired to write a dance with lots of polka steps after seeing various mens Northwest sides dancing at Saddleworth at the Rushcart weekend. I had also been practicing some Playford tunes to play with The Bang On The Wall Band and it suddenly occurred to me on the way home from Saddleworth that you could do a polka step to the tune, Gathering Peascods that I happened to be playing a lot at the time. I also liked the idea of making different shapes with the set, and this idea probably came from seeing Sergeant Musgraves Dance, in particular the diamond figure I had seen in one of their dances (most likely Portland Hill). Anstey Royale Chalfont danced High Sharpley out in 2001. When I joined Sergeant Musgrave Dance, it was suggested that I teach them the dance, and it is now a firm fixture in the repertoire.

Sergeant Musgraves Dance

Sergeant Musgraves Dance are a mixed Northwest Morris side based in Nottingham and Derby. We meet to practice at the scout hut on Hanley avenue in Bramcote. I was foreman (dance teacher and choreographer) for many years until recently moving away from the area. I hope to still be able to join the side to dance occasionally.

The dance, High Sharpley was written around about the turn of the Century (in either 1999 or 2000) and at the time I was dancing with Anstey Royale Chalfont. They are a womens side, but I learned their dances so that I could help them out if they were ever short of a dancer. I was inspired to write a dance with lots of polka steps after seeing various mens Northwest sides dancing at Saddleworth at the Rushcart weekend. I had also been practicing some Playford tunes to play with The Bang On The Wall Band and it suddenly occurred to me on the way home from Saddleworth that you could do a polka step to the tune, Gathering Peascods that I happened to be playing a lot at the time. I also liked the idea of making different shapes with the set, and this idea probably came from seeing Sergeant Musgraves Dance, in particular the diamond figure I had seen in one of their dances (most likely Portland Hill). Anstey Royale Chalfont danced High Sharpley out in 2001. When I joined Sergeant Musgrave Dance, it was suggested that I teach them the dance, and it is now a firm fixture in the repertoire.

Sergeant Musgraves Dance

Sergeant Musgraves Dance are a mixed Northwest Morris side based in Nottingham and Derby. We meet to practice at the scout hut on Hanley avenue in Bramcote. I was foreman (dance teacher and choreographer) for many years until recently moving away from the area. I hope to still be able to join the side to dance occasionally.

The Bunnies From Hell

The Bunnies From Hell are easily recognisable from the attire of the dancers which is basically whatever each individual dancer chooses, but is limited in colour to black, grey, and of course, pink.