The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
AIn England, the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is traditionally performed once per year on the first Monday following the first Sunday following the September 4 around the village of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire. Anyone with a deep interest in English folklore, particularly folk dance, is strongly recommended to visit Abbots Bromley to experience this remarkable and unique dance.
The dance has been adopted by the Thaxted Morris Men who perform their version of it at their annual Morris Ring Meeting. Unlike the dance performed in Abbots Bromley, the Thaxted men use a single, haunting melody which is reported to come from Abbots Bromley - however, the Abbots Bromley men deny all knowledge!
Since 2010, the Vancouver Morris Men have been performing the Thaxted version (see video above). We perform this dance at our annual Cider Social event in Langley BC supplemented other select events. For example, we often perform it at our annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival on Granville Island in Vancouver. We have also performed it at the Princeton Folk Festival, Princeton BC.
The Sources
"The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance" by E.R. Shipman (1982)
Personal video of the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, Abbots Bromley, Staffs. by Graham Baldwin
Personal video of the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, Thaxted, Essex, by Graham Baldwin
The dance has been adopted by the Thaxted Morris Men who perform their version of it at their annual Morris Ring Meeting. Unlike the dance performed in Abbots Bromley, the Thaxted men use a single, haunting melody which is reported to come from Abbots Bromley - however, the Abbots Bromley men deny all knowledge!
Since 2010, the Vancouver Morris Men have been performing the Thaxted version (see video above). We perform this dance at our annual Cider Social event in Langley BC supplemented other select events. For example, we often perform it at our annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival on Granville Island in Vancouver. We have also performed it at the Princeton Folk Festival, Princeton BC.
The Sources
"The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance" by E.R. Shipman (1982)
Personal video of the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, Abbots Bromley, Staffs. by Graham Baldwin
Personal video of the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, Thaxted, Essex, by Graham Baldwin
