HISTORY was in the making when ‘local lass’ Karina Middlehurst performed with Lymm Morris at the recent Rushbearing Festival in the village.
It was the first time a woman had danced the Lymm Dance with the traditonally all male morris side where she was joined by another lady, Ann Bolshaw on accordian.
As a ‘local lass’ for 18 years now, and a Morris dancer with two other sides (including another local mixed ‘border’ side, Bollin Morris) she had for some years wanted to dance the local Lymm Dance. Unfortunately, it was danced by an all-male side.
However, recently, many traditional all-male Morris sides have been voting at their AGMs and changing to become mixed sides. While Lymm Morris and Thelwall Morris are officially different sides, Thelwall Morris did this last year (http://www.thelwallmorris.org.uk/PR%20Oct%202023.htm)
Karina said: “For the past couple of years Lymm Morris has been appealing for new dancers and musicians to keep the tradition alive, so now seemed the right time to ask. There was no hesitation, and I was welcomed to the practice the week before Rushbearing to learn the dance! I was not the only lady at the practice, so Rushbearing was also Ann’s first performance as a musician for Lymm. Ann also dances for the local mixed ‘Cotswold’ side Earl of Stamford Morris.
“I was a bit nervous, not having had much practice before the dance out, but all went well. I may occasionally have been on the wrong foot, but mostly in the right place, so hopefully the audience never noticed! It’s a shame it is only danced three times a year. I can’t wait until Dickensian to dance it out again. All Morris dancing is great fun – and great exercise too – I recommend anyone to give it a try!
The Lymm Dance has been heavily researched and was revived by Thelwall Morris in 1980.
More details can be found at lymm-morris.org.uk
Karina and Ann with Lymm Morris
