The New Year launched me into the national gathering of Morris Dancers, held in Dunedin between the 3rd and 8th of January 2012.
The hosts for this year's annual tour were Jack Frost Morris,
a side whose Otago University origins have coloured their character - maverick.
Although this is a New Zealand gathering, there are always international visitors, some of them old hands, and others new to the way of the morris in New Zealand. English and Australian dancers joined us this year.
We danced for joy.
We danced with skill,
and showmanship.
And we danced because it had to be done!
We danced in landmark settings.
We toured a multi-national factory...
and a small boutique brewery:
where the hospitality was as excellent as the beer,
and the dancing was memorable.
In truth, I did very little dancing. Jetlag and bad ankles took their toll, though I did indeed get to the top of the Steepest Street in the World. However, I took great pleasure in watching Kitty dance at every opportunity...
Poignantly, she wears her father's bell pads.
Without our live musicians, pleasure in the dance for me would be diminished. Every one of them is precious beyond gold.
Here a handful from our larger band, plays in the Botanic Gardens.
From top to toe, most of us enjoy
dressing up.
And the theme for this year's Ale provided ample opportunity for creativity and sartorial elegance: Steampunk/Apocolypse.
The End of the Earth Morris Tour is over.
Well done Jack Frost, with particular mention of Jules Mann and Jonathon Cweorth, who organised it... and us!
Next year the annual tour will be hosted by City of Auckland Morris Dancers and held in Rotorua.
