Swanage Folk Festival - part one

[puddleshark]

Fabulous weather for the dancing today along the sea front at Swanage. Sunshine, and a brisk wind to set the rags and ribbons of the Morris dancers in motion.



My pictures didn't come out that well today, perhaps due to the harsh light, but it's not important. Saw lots of fabulous dances, and heard lots of wonderful music.


Armaleggan Border Morris.









As if they weren't scary enough with their white faces and their tall feathered hats, they also have a hobby horse that wanders round snatting its teeth at the crowd in a sinister manner.



It's always amusing to see the reactions of people who had come to Swanage for the day without knowing that the folk festival was on. Most people think the dancing and music and the costumes are wonderful. But a tiny minority are absolutely horrified, and observing them is always so very entertaining.


A bag for the zombie apocalypse.


Even pirate queens have to have a hobby.


Loose Women Morris, who actually come from Loose, in Kent.

We were discussing the festival programme at dance practice last week, and none of us were familiar with this side, except the accordionist, who exclaimed, "I know Loose Women!", at which I fell about laughing.


















Sidmouth Steppers.




Basingclog Morris.










Letchworth Morris.

Comments

[sartorias]

The color is just splendid!

[puddleshark]

One last blast of colour to end the summer!

[heleninwales]

Everyone looks to be having a lot of fun. The colours of the costumes look good on a sunny day.

[puddleshark]

The costumes are always fabulous. And Swanage somehow always manages to have perfect weather, no matter how bad the weather is the week before or the week after.

[lamentables]

Excellent photos! I am particularly taken with the hats.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

I love hat-watching at folk festivals. So many beautiful and ingenious and sinister hats!