THE SUMMER SEASON IS OVER, BUT NOW THE FUN BEGINS!

 Back in Eaglesfield Village Hall tonight, to practise our dances. The summer season has been amazing if you consider the weather, but we wish we'd had a few more dancers in our ranks.

Now is the time to come and have a go! Don't worry – you don't need to have ever danced before!

I've seen newbies telling us they have two left feet and they'll never get the hang of it, and yet, by the following summer, they are dancing like seasoned pros!

Morris dancing engages both the body and the brain. You get great exercise, but you have to pay attention too. It's not a mindless activity like running on a treadmill. Learning the shape of a new dance is such a satisfying activity. And everyone is super friendly so don't worry about making mistakes. Everyone does, even those with loads of experience. 

BRING  A FRIEND! There's no commitment. Just come along and try it, and have a laugh. And if you haven't got a friend, there's a whole gang of potential new friends here!

email Ally if you have any queries.

NEW RECRUITS REQUIRED! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Most of our dancers (with a few notable exceptions) never tried morris dancing before they joined us, and yet, here they are, dancing like pros. 

Anyone can learn. 

YOU CAN LEARN! 

It's great fun; you'll make new, lifelong friends; fantastic exercise for both the body and the brain; you get to visit all sorts of interesting places you'd never have thought of visiting otherwise; it's really one of the best things you can do.

All you need is to be free on Monday evenings, and some weekends in the summer, and to have a working pair of legs.

Why not have a go? It doesn't cost anything to come to a practice and you'll be made so welcome!  You may think you have two left feet, but we'll soon sort  you out and turn them into one of each.

Our practices will start again in September, after our dancing-out season is over. If you give Jan, our secretary, a ring, on 07825 883827, she'll advise when to come.

MUSICIANS ALSO NEEDED!

We have a group of talented musicians, but only one lead accordionist, and we desperately need someone else who can lead the band when he's not available. You need to play something loud, like an accordion, and have the confidence to learn the tunes and lead the band once you've learned the ropes. Other players of portable instruments welcome too.

If it's about music, phone Ally on 07718 394355

BELFAGAN'S PROGRESS SO FAR IN 2025

We've had some lovely dance-outs so far this year! Here we are doing a mass Greenham with Ramshackle Morris from York at Barnard Castle in May, at Black Sheep Morris' Day of Dance. We always love going there.

And another photo from Barnard Castle, doing our own dance, Belfagan.

Below: a lovely evening at the King's Head, Thirlspot, surrounded by spectacular fells and bathed in beautiful evening sunlight. Here are the girls at the end of one of our favourite dances, The Cumberland Crown.

Below: here we are in June, at Malkin Morris' Day of Dance at Barnoldswick (pronounced Barlick). A glorious weekend of mostly sunshine with a few welcome, cooling showers. Lovely town, and lots of other lovely dancers to share the day with.

A GREAT START TO THE SUMMER SEASON

 We've had three lovely Monday evenings recently; first, at the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite Village, next at the Fox & Hounds, Ennerdale, and then last night at the Swinside Inn, in the shadow of some of the most iconic mountains in the northern fells. Fabulous weather too! (Well, perhaps too fabulous, in fact, as the temperatures have been very high for the dancers.)

Above: dancing Mona's Delight at the Sun Inn.

Above: Belfagan Band at the Sun Inn

Above: dancing Wigton at the Swinside Inn

Mona's Delight

Dancing off into the setting sun

Black Sheep Day of Dance at Barnard Castle, 2023

We've just enjoyed another lovely day out at Barnard Castle surrounded by another 9 morris sides. It wasn't as sunny as usual, but the rain mostly kept off. 

You can find photos of all the other sides on our Flickr page here.

If you were there, and took any photos of Belfagan in action, PLEASE SEND US COPIES! Firstly, email Ally at this address: ally@belfagan.org.uk. Thanks.

READY FOR THE 2023 SUMMER SEASON

 

Here we are, all raring to go, our clogs and bells nicely polished, our kit washed and ironed, and our instruments perfectly in tune! All we need now is some sunshine, and YOU, to come and cheer us on, and maybe even join in with a dance if you're feeling energetic.

Please check our DIARY page to see where to find us. Hope to see  you there!

 

RESTARTING PRACTICES AFTER THE FESTIVE SEASON

 Assuming we're not prevented by new covid restrictions, we'll be back in Eaglesfield Village Hall to get practising again on Monday January 17th. 

If you fancy having a go at North West morris, we'd love to see you. No experience necessary, and there's no commitment until you've had a chance to see if you enjoy it.

In the meantime, a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year to all our supporters.