MAYDAY! The Morris Men need you!

Tuesday 11 January 2022

The Helier Morris Men are sending out a 'mayday' call for new dancers.

Following two quieter years for the Morris Men, the group are now looking to bring in new members and make sticks, swords and handkerchiefs a regular sight in Jersey.

Confirmed as the most southerly team in the British Isles, admitted to the Morris Ring and the only men’s Morris side in the Channel Islands, Heliers have danced their way through traditions like Cotswolds, Longswords and Mummers plays. 

Pictured: The Helier Morris Men on May Day last year.

Now entering their 47th year, the group have already lined up an itinerary of events to kick the year off, including presiding over a National Trust wassailing event - a Medieval drinking ritual aimed to encourage a good harvest of cider apples. 

This will be taking place at the Elms on Saturday 15 January.

This will then be followed by two open evenings for any men interested in trying Morris dancing, on Monday 17 January and Monday 24 January, taking place at St Saviour’s Parish Hall from 20:00 onwards.

Pictured: The group are aiming to have events throughout 2022, starting from May Day - those interested in joining can come for taster sessions this month.

The ‘taster’ evenings will go on for two hours, with an eye to having participants join the side on a regular basis.

The side will then continue practicing weekly, each Monday night, with a view to teaching new recruits before May Day (May 1), when the dancers will begin performing on a regular basis again. 

The dancers perform mainly between May and September, beginning an island-wide tour on May Day. 

As well as this, they can also be seen for Christmas performances, wassailing in early January and circumstances permitting, meeting up with other Morris-teams from across the UK and other Channel Islands.