Dance Teams
South Zeal is lucky to have two Morris Dance teams, Tinners Morris and Cog & Wheels. They appear every year at the festival as well as being joined by invited teams. Both are very welcoming to new members. If you fancy having loads of fun whilst getting fit click on their links to get in touch.
Dance Teams 2024
SATURDAY
Grimspound Border Morris were formed around a pub table in Combeinteignhead in 1994, so 2024 is our 30th Anniversary! We have grown and evolved to the side we are now, with a number of new dances and refreshes to old dances ready to perform out this year. With clashing sticks, look out for our black tatters with a dash of purple.
Aurora are an Appalachian step team based in Exeter, who love to dance. Wearing colours seen in an aurora, we perform our high-energy dance routines at various festivals and fayres across the country, incorporating both traditional and flat-footing styles.
Cogs & Wheels Ladies Morris were formed in 1995. We take our inspiration from Finch Foundry in Sticklepath and the surrounding Dartmoor landscape. Our costumes reflect the hues of the moor and our Beldames style of dancing is quite distinctive. Our original team of ten has grown each year and although some are relatively new to Morris dancing we believe that our enthusiasm and joy for the dance overcomes all obstacles!
SUNDAY
Glory of the West is a Women’s Cotswold morris side based in the City of Exeter. We welcome dancers who identify as women or non-binary and musicians of any gender.
Founded in 1976 at Exeter University, our colours were taken from the green and white of the University. With the addition of yellow and red on a background of black, we aim to deliver vibrant yet crisp performances with intricate formations and skillful technique. We enjoy writing our own dances in the styles of Ilmington, Wheatley and Ascott Under Wychwood and we have a few traditional dances in the repertoire as well.
Our members range in age from 18 to 70+ and we have two second generation dancers in the side. New dancers and musicians are always welcome.
Winkleigh Morris were formed in 1990 when the landlady of the former Winkleigh Hotel arranged evening classes on Morris dancing for her regulars and anyone else interested in having a go, A few of the original members are still active with the side, and we have been fortunate over the years to have enough dancers and musicians to manage a full programme of displays within our area as well as to attend festivals and other events both in the UK and abroad - including, of course, Dartmoor Folk Festival. We have been a guest side at Dartmoor on a number of occasions and we are delighted to accept the invitation to return again in 2024. It is now 10 years since we appeared at Dartmoor in our new red waistcoat kit - the third (and possibly the last) change since we started.
We are looking to the future with confidence, having attracted several new - and younger - members in the past two years. We are nevertheless always pleased to welcome new dancers and musicians whether or not they have had any previous experience of Morris. See our website www.winkleighmorris.org.uk for further details or speak to one of our members!
Tinners Morris started as a group of friends whose arms were twisted to join in with the dancing. Over almost 20 years they have developed a reputation for being a load of lads who know how to enjoy their dancing and who ensure that they provide some entertainment. They dance in a fairly traditional Cotswold style, with others they have learned from Sussex and the old, defunct Ockington Morris.
Never shy to have their photographs taken, they are now able to hold their own in many of the South West Morris Festivals.
It's good to see some of the younger generation in the Side, but we are always looking for new local fellas to join the merry crew.