Grenoside
Sword Dancers |
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Richard
Arrowsmith Gerry Bates Dave Brookes Gavin Davenport Joe Dunn Ray Ellison |
Malcolm
Harper Steve Mettam John Newman John Scholey Pete Smith |
Mike
Steel Graham Stothard Alec Thompson Derek West Derek Wood |
Boxing Day, 2006
The year
saw an influx of new members and culminated in us being
able to form two completely different sets (and different captains) for
our two
dances on our traditional day. 2007 February The team was at Cecil Sharp House for the Return of Albert weekend; a re-union for teams who had danced at the EFDSS’s International Festivals at the Albert Hall. Time was spent in the Ralph Vaughan Williams library and here we found confirmation in an article by Norman Peacock (Folk Music Journal, vol. 8, no 2) that our dance was collected by Cecil Sharp in a barn at Hill Top Farm on Wheel Lane, on Sat Aug 27th, 1910. We have now identified the precise location and hope to dance in the barn on 27th August 2010, 100 years to the day. July The team
was in Italy as guests of Bal do Sabre from
Bagnasco in the Piedmont region where many new friends were made as
well as
renewing old acquaintances with Lange Wapper. September Usually a
quiet time, September was very busy, and included
a splendid Day of Dance in the
village with our guests Monkseaton and
Kirkburton. Pecsaetan joined us in the evening. We also took possession
of our
new costumes and danced them out for the first time at the University
Arms,
where we bade ‘Bon Voyage’ to Pete and Annie Smith who were off on the
‘Oz
Bus.’ October SDU Sword Dance Tournament in Derby. The team’s first competition for several years. We carried off two awards; ‘Best Turned Out’ for our new costumes and ‘Best Character’ for our Captain (on this occasion Gerry). It was pleasing to note a comment made at the SDU AGM, which said how the whole event had been ‘enhanced by the presence of the Grenoside Team in their splendid new costumes.’ December Our 7th
Carol Traipse, another team initiative to take the
local carols around the area. The lovely Grenoside Carols resurrected
and arranged
by Ray Ellison our musician, are now firmly embedded in our repertoire. 2008 January 15th Annual Traipse. The Newcastle Kingsmen joined us for the weekend.We danced in front of large audiences; 60 at the coffee morning and over 100 at the opening of the Village Green. Six Teams danced at the evening party, which was attended by over 100 people. February Some notable birthdays in the team saw us dance at Ray Ellison’s 60th birthday party, following a presentation earlier in the day to Graham Stothard, who was also celebrating his 60th birthday. May At
the
time of writing, the team is about to take part in
the International Sword Spectacular in York. We have a very strong
turnout
should see all 16 members attending. Workshops,
Talks, Village Groups These
have been an important feature of our work as we
attempt to further the standing of the team and extend its influence.
Engaging
Young People
(without doubt our greatest challenge!) Schools.
Despite repeated attempts to engage both the local
Primary and Comprehensive schools in projects of various kinds, the
response in
both cases has been extremely disappointing. However, we will persevere. Scouts.
Good news here. Grenoside is the meeting place for
the North Sheffield Venture Scouts. They would like to include sword
dancing in
their programme. Work will begin after Whitsuntide. Future
Projects In
order
to further our friendship with Newcastle Kingsmen
and celebrate the first collection of sword dances in 1910, we hope to
develop
a combined project. The first workshop for dancers will be held in
Newcastle in
June. 2010 Centenary Celebrations Possible events for discussion are:
Early Warning! This
years’ SDU tournament (2008) is Saturday, October 4th.
In Derby. Joe Dunn, Grenoside, May 2008. |
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