Q1: Where do you meet?
Q2: How do I join Roosters?
Q3: What are membership/subs?
Q4: What is `The Constitution’/ why have one?
Q5: Who are the `Officers’ and what do they do?
Q6: What other costs are there?
Q7: How about kit – what is the dress code?
Q8: How is kit provided/bought?
Q9: When will I be advised about kitting up?
- In winter (Sept/Oct to AprilMay) at practice every Tuesday
- held at Brockham Rugby Club, Dorking/Brockham border
- arrive 8 pm to start dancing 8.15 prompt
- in summer we dance out
- just come along and visit us at practice / start to learn
- or start by coming to one of our beginners workshops usually held in Sept or Oct
- first couple of visits are free and then, if you continue, you will pay the practice fee (currently £1 per person)
- you may then become a member
- anyone is welcome to continue attending practices but they do not become members until they are invited to kit up
and also pay the annual subscription (see Constitution – Q4)
- amount of annual subscription is currently £10 per annum and is set at the AGM meeting (see Q5)
- as in most organisations the subs indicate you are a member and have voting rights on aspects important to the group
Q4: What is `the Constitution’/ why have one?
- the reason why the Side was formed and its aims and objectives are captured; it gives us all a common ground
and foundation and can be easily referenced
- it also provides very broad guidelines to help us run smoothly (see Q 5 below)
Q5: Who are `Officers’ and what do they do?
- Officers are elected at each AGM (Sept/Oct) and help the Side run effectively – someone has to do the grunt work!!!!
- By voting for them, the Side gives the officers the remit to make decisions on the Side’s behalf (usually after an element of consultation with all members)
and in turn the Side members support the Officers in the roles they undertake
Officers are:
SQUIRE point person for the Side, main liaison with other Sides and public events - organises dance outs - tries to keep order, is generally regarded as` the boss person’, and their decision is the final one!
FOREMAN teaches dance skills, techniques and generally ensures we dance well and to a high standard so we can be proud! – liases with Squire and Lead Musician/musicians
TREASURER handles the cash/keeps the books and presents the Accounts of the Side at the AGM each year
SCRIBE assists Squire in organising/contact point for events – aims to do all the writing bits, including AGM papers, publicity etc
LEAD MUSICIAN main focus and point person for setting rhythm and music style for the dances - liaises with Foreman and Squire on allmatters musical
Q6: What other costs are there?
- Morris is self-funding; we do it because we enjoy it
- Although we do often collect from the public when we dance out, we also tend to fund ourselves when attending dance outs such as Ales, Day of Dance, festivals etc.
- There is also some outlay on kit (see Q8)
Q7: How about kit – what is the dress code?
Our dance out kit is:
• Long-sleeved white shirts (with or without a collar); individual choice of white shirt as long as it conforms with general look of the Side
• Sleeves can be rolled up, but no short sleeves.
• Ladies - black leggings, shirt over
• Men - black breeches, shirts tucked in, not trousers into socks.
• Headgear optional but if worn must be Side colours
• Neckerchiefs optional (Side colours, many already wear red spotted)
• Black shoes or trainers
• Side socks and baldricks
• Tatter coats (red/golden yellow/green on black shirt) are worn if dancing Border – they also tend to be used as outerwear
• Adornments/accessories should aim to be in Side colours if at all possible, to promote Rooster identity (i.e. red, golden yellow, green, black, white)
- practice clothes just need to be comfortable and with good supportive shoes/trainer
Q8: How is kit provided and bought?
Roosters have a designated Kit person
- when `kit up’ is confirmed by the Squire to the new member the Kit person will also be advised and who will purchase provide the following kit for purchase be the member.
• the baldricks for final fitting by the member
• pair of Side socks (purchase by the member from the Kit person)
• pair of bell pads and bells (purchased by the member from the Kit person)
• Rooster dance badges for front/back of baldricks (purchased by the member from the Kit person)
- the memebr will source/provide for themselves:
• long sleeved white shirt(s)
• black breeches (men) / black leggings (ladies)
• black shoes or trainers to dance in
- the above are required in time for first dance out. Subsequently the Kit person will provide fabric for tatter coats to be made up (by member or other). The member will provide the black shirt for tatter coat, and also white hankies for hanky dances if done (see Kit person for size of hankies)
As well as dance kit, sticks are provided by our Stickman who sources and provides our sticks for us periodically.
They are usually `green’ when provided to the Side, and Stickman ensures they are prepared and `banded’ in the Rampant Rooster Morris Side colours.
Each person is provided with 2 long and 2 short sticks which they bring to each dance out to use.
Q9: When will I be advised about kitting up?
- prior to the new dance out season, usually in the first couple of months of the new year, a new person’s ability to dance out is assessed (see Constitution).