The Morris Federation

In 1973 the idea of a federation was introduced to provide information and moral support to (at that time) women publicly dancing Morris. The Woman’s Morris Federation was officially inaugurated in October 1975 and, five years later in 1980, opened up to any Morris side, male or female, regardless of gender. The Morris Federation believes that the dancing is more important than the dancer’s gender, and they actively seek to encourage people to experience the joy of Morris dancing.

The Morris Federation is an association of self-governing Morris clubs, which aims to:
a) encourage and maintain interest in the practice of morris dancing by women and men of all ages
b) provide a channel of communication between member sides
c) encourage the improvement of standards of dancing among its members.
www.morrisfed.org

Rampant Rooster is affiliated to the Morris Federation

Open Morris

Open Morris began in 1979 as a loose organisation of East Anglian dancers, following efforts by one of the (then) few mixed Morris sides in the country to find local friends and sympathisers.

Open Morris is open to any group or individual involved in the performance of Morris Dancing or allied activities. All sides are welcome - mixed, male or female, as are dancers or musicians who wish to become individual members.
www.open-morris.com

The Morris Ring

In 1934 the Cambridge Morris Men invited five other teams to join them in the formation of a national organisation, the result was that five of the revival clubs in SE England formed in the early part of the C20th met at Thaxted in Essex on the 11th May that year to inaugurate Folk Clubs. The Morris Ring, www.themorrisring.org, was founded to encourage the performance of Morris Dancing, to maintain its traditions and to preserve its history. Sides could join the Ring only if they were approved by existing members who set certain standards of dancing. In practice this meant that male-only teams could join the Morris ring.

In the 1970s and 1980s this drew criticisms from the Morris Federation and Open Morris Organisations but although the debate has now calmed down a few individuals may still retain strong feelings about the merits or demerits of all male, women's and mixed Morris even though the three organisations now often work in partnership towards shared goals. However the popularity of Morris amongst mixed and womens sides is such that the influence and numbers of the Morris ring is significantly declining.

Morris Sides

There are hundreds of Morris sides in existence today. Its latest popular revival in the 1960’s/70’s forms the main body of Sides dancing today, but quite a few formed earlier and new Sides still form in the present day. Take a look at http://www.morrisdancing.org/finder/sfcgi.html

Local Sides to Roosters which we regard as `friends’ in that we often meet up locally include:

Sompting Village Morris (Worthing)
Brighton Morris Men (Brighton)
Wild Hunt Bedlam Morris , Old Palace Clog (Croydon)
Buckland Shag (nr Reigate)
Pilgrim Morris (Guildford)
Mayflower Morris (Ash, Surrey Hants borders)
Marlings Morris, (Godstone)
Westhill Morris, (Dartford, Kent)
Broadwood Morris, Magog Morris (both in Horsham)
Knockhundred Shuttle Morris (No Web Site?), Alton Morris, Hook Eagle (all 3 in Hants)
Treacle Eater Morris
Off Spring Morris

….and many more we have no room to list here

But the Morris family is vast and all-encompassing, and Roosters dance with many other Sides as well – all in the family of Morris enjoy the tradition and fun of what we do!

Mole Valley Arts Alive

Mole Vally organise an Arts Festival which Rampant rooster Support. We run an annual Morris Dancing Workshop to give the public an opportunity to experience Morris Dancing and perhaps take up the hobby.

The Mole Valley Arts Forum aims to be a coordinated body to promote the Arts and to assess, encourage and help provide arts needs in the District of Mole Valley

Dorking Folk Club

Dorking Folk Club club was formed in May 1976 and although it has been through a few metamorphoses, name changes and has had different venues over the years, it has always been successful in bringing acoustic and traditional music to Surrey for over 32 years. We aim to keep folk and acoustic music live and available and to support live artists