Hi all,
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I'm going to try and make stickers ahead of DERT. We'd mentioned at the AGM that we thought this would be a way of creating a bit of buzz around the team before we actually start dancing by giving them out on Friday evening and Saturday day time. I think we're aiming for something that makes us look fun with a hint of attitude so (good) puns and play on words welcome!
Here are some things already suggested:
1) Replacing one word in a well-known phrase with the word Raven e.g. What does the Raven say? Who let the Ravens out?
2) General folk jokes e.g. Cecil says no, George says yes
3) Our Raven names e.g. Brazen Raven, Towering Raven, Raven Mad, Quaver Raven
4) General Ravens/Tower facts e.g. Tower Ravens: flying in circles since 2012
I'm very happy to take more suggestions. You can email me, talk to me on the crawl, or add your ideas straight to this google doc<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E6QDzITYFHboTe4ptKcF8QBytDeEal_DAmS8FAV…>.
Thanks,
Ffion
Please take a look at my blog on Welsh folk songs - caneuongwerin.wordpress.com<http://caneuongwerin.wordpress.com>
Hi all,
Some bedtime reading for you all... I've been working on the essay for
Westerhope, and I'd really appreciate feedback. The current draft can be
found here
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HxLqsciuLR1AKNVSnJtXzKSV5k2UWifxKmIgict…>,
and it should be commentable, so do put notes in if you see anything odd.
I've based it on Laura's essay from last year, so a big thank you to Laura
for making the whole thing significantly easier! :)
Thanks everybody,
Rachel x
Hi everybody,
We agreed today that we would wear the same costume as last year, that is:
black shirt, tie with badge, normal skirt (no petticoat), tights, shoes.
Add black safety pants if you are worried about the length of your skirt
without a petticoat!
Shirts:
I think that Jo, Hannah and Laura S already have shirts that fit them from
last year. I know various non-Westerhopers have shirts; I believe that we
need to find shirts for Hannorah, Reesha and Rachel-Anne.
Can you three let us know what size you would normally wear as a tshirt?
We'll see if anybody is able to lend theirs. I think we found last year
that we had to go up a size to allow for arm movement when dancing. I am
trying to find out if Primark still sell them, but no luck so far.
The shirts are a little sheer. Did we wear them over our usual tshirts,
can anyone remember?
Ties and badges:
I believe that Jo, Hannah, Laura S, Kate, Katherine, Rachel all have ties
and badges from last year (Laura S may have several??). Can Kate,
Katherine and I all try to remember to bring ours on Monday and we'll do a
bit of a swap?
Safety pants:
If you're worried about the length of your skirt without a petticoat, last
year Laura bought these
<http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231286124406?var=530540160683> which were cheap
and effective.
Thanks all,
Rachel x
Hello all,
Just want to say a big thank you everyone's continued hard work. I know the build up to DERT can be frustrating as well as tiring but it is really showing in both sets that we've put a lot of effort in.
Reminders for Thursday -
DERT set - please really think about appearance, we'll check kit all matches (barring tights which will buy for next crawl) and neat hair (this is mainly at me) I know we mentioned more feathers, can someone remind me to ask Laura S. if she still has any feathers?
Overall our focus is really listening and staying with Kate, in particular not rushing on the doubles. Everyone/ as many as possible stepping to the end pre-popcorn, remembering woop woop step [😊] Oh and SMILING!
Ffion - sword out of windmills and sword in double tumble
Laura W. - no camp feet on your way round in windmills, remember to walk around after V lock! Brute force in 5 person locks
Becky - land on 3 in windmills, don't move at end of spin, 6 sword lock
Hannah - going down at the same time as others going into sweeps and double tumble, don't travel too far in square display, brute force in 5 person locks
Katherine - sword out of windmills and in double tumble, footing on getting into open ring from second tits.
Sue - Speedy entrance to walkaround and then caterpillar in order to break on 4, confident display even if lock looks bad [😊]
Kate - start at good pace and stay there trying to fit exciting music at appropriate times (as long as we don't mess up!)
Westerhope set - obviously I haven't been as involved so can't give as picky advice! Overall remain calm, you can do Westerhope really nicely, both the figures and the stepping, just really listen to Kate and try to step in a controlled way. Try and remember to look up and look calm/smile?? you guys look so much more confident with just that small change.
Here's to an awesome crawl!
Becky xx
Who is the photographer?
*From:* Rachel Elliott [mailto:rachel@efdss.org]
*Sent:* 07 March 2017 10:28
*To:* Laura Smyth
*Cc:* carla
*Subject:* RE: Tower Ravens photo
PS: Who is the photographer credit?
Best wishes,
Rachel
*Rachel Elliott*
Education Director
English Folk Dance and Song Society
Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 7AY
*www.efdss.org <http://www.efdss.org/>*
T: +44 (0)20 7485 2206 *ext. 236 (Please note new extension number) *
*From:* Laura Smyth [mailto:laura@efdss.org]
*Sent:* 07 March 2017 10:10
*To:* rachel(a)efdss.org
*Cc:* carla
*Subject:* Tower Ravens photo
Hello Rachel,
Is this picture suitable for Tower Ravens?
Best wishes,
*Laura Smyth*
Library and Archives Director
The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
English Folk Dance and Song Society
Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park, London NW1 7AY
T: +44 (0)20 7485 2206 ext.229
*www.efdss.org <http://www.efdss.org/>*
*Vaughan Williams Memorial Library* <http://www.vwml.org/>
*Open Hours:*
Tuesday – Friday, 9.30am – 5.30pm
1st and 3rd Saturdays each month (except August), 10am – 4pm
*VWML Library Lectures
<http://www.vwml.org/events/upcoming-events/3679-library-lectures-2017>*
A series of evening talks by guest speakers covering traditional dance,
music, and customs
*Broadside Day 2017
<http://www.vwml.org/events/upcoming-events/3914-broadside-day-2017>*
Our annual conference exploring street literature – the songs, stories,
printers and sellers
*Histories of Morris Conference 2017
<http://www.vwml.org/vwml-news/224-june-2016/3671-call-for-papers-the-histor…>*
Celebrating morris in all its forms
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Hello all,
The Nut are running a team profile of us and have sent us a few questions to answer. I've given them a bash but am very happy for people to give their own input as this is a representation of all of us and I've rather speedily typed this out. In particular if I've got 2 totally wrong please let me know (I wasn't here!!). I'll bring a printout of these to practice if it's easy for people to add/cross out there, I just don't want to waste time on it at business.
Also we need to prove 3 good photos, has anyone got any preferences? Would it be possible for someone to bring a half decent camera on Thursday?
Thanks,
Becky
Hi Everyone,
We have just been invited to dance at *Beverley Folk Festival*!
It runs from 16th (evening) to 18th June - more info here:
http://www.beverleyfestival.com/appearing-in-2017/
Stuart from Sallyport organises the dance teams and has just asked if we
would be able to dance there - We should have an official email soon
(probably with a bit more info) - but we are going to need to respond
quickly on this one! It would be great if we can get a team together for
this one - we have kept saying we would like to be doing festivals and
here's a great opportunity (and one we haven't had to ask for!)
Beverley is only about 3 hours away from London - has it's own train
station so it's easy to get to and the campsite is within easy walking
distance of the station
Apparently in an ideal world it would be great if we had any other dances
that we can do besides rapper - but it may be that the world is not so
ideal!
Please check your diaries and try and have some kind of definite response
tomorrow if you can so we can start working out whether this will be
possible. I've added it on the sign-up sheet, so feel free to fill it in
when you know!
Thanks,
Hannah
Hi everybody,
We agreed today that we would like to have a tommy for Westerhope if
possible, and Laura suggested that they should wear the top hat and tails
of the music hall compere. We were going to discuss ideas for things to
say and try to write a script that someone might be happy using (people who
said today that they might consider it were Laura W's Paul, Sue and Becky,
but if anyone else is interested, do say so!).
Hannorah, you had some script ideas from a couple of years ago - can you
send them round to start us off please?
Thanks,
Rachel x
Hi everyone,
I was chatting to a few people today about the trio and I realised I should tell you where and when we'll be playing in London next. We've actually got one a month for the next four months which is quite unusual for us. One is tomorrow and in Twickenham and one is on a Monday, so I know they're both unlikely! However....
Sunday 5 March: Twickfolk<https://www.twickfolk.co.uk/>, Twickenham. Early bird £8 tickets<http://www.wegottickets.com/event/385236> available now.
Saturday 29 April: The Goose is Out<http://thegooseisout.com/>, Dulwich. £10 tickets<http://www.wegottickets.com/event/379414> available online (20-30 minutes support slot only).
Monday 15 May: The Green Note Café<http://www.greennote.co.uk/>, Camden. £10 tickets<http://www.wegottickets.com/event/385644> available online.
Friday 23 June: Watford Folk Club<http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com/> (not really in London but accessible via TfL!). Tickets not available yet.
Also, save the date for the launch event for our second album! It’s almost definitely going to be on Saturday 14 October in Islington. I'd love it if lots of you could make it.
Ffion x
Please take a look at my blog on Welsh folk songs - caneuongwerin.wordpress.com<http://caneuongwerin.wordpress.com>
Hello all,
Quick thank you to everyone for coming yesterday! I hope everyone found it useful. I could see improvements in both teams and it was really obvious how much work and effort has been put in :-)
I would like to work on double jubilee, if Katherine and jo could have a chat as to best places to wait before proceeding to the next figure that should mean it's as together a sit can be. I'm aware jubilee was potentially s shock to the system anyway so well done everyone on dancing it. I think it'll be a really fun way to end the day and show off our awesome team all together :-) we'll do it again tomorrow as we should have everyone again.
Where did you get regarding how the Tommy could join in or things to say? I'm hoping you had time to figure some stuff out and Rachel can clue me up tomorrow, obviously if anyone has additional ideas share them!
Special thanks to hannah and Kate for lasting out the entire day, we couldn't do it without you.
Hope no-on is too broken. I'm currently sat soaking my feet :-)
Becky xx
Sent from my Sony Xperia™ smartphone
Due to a mild miscommunication in the Dyer-Evans household, I didn't
realise that I am in fact, travelling to Birmingham on the Thursday so
won't be on the crawl :( sorry guys.
Hi everybody,
I want to send a big thank you to everybody who came and helped us practise
and especially the Westerhope set for concentrating hard. I hope everyone
got home OK! I think Westerhope is looking really sharp and confident and
I'm really really pleased at the progress we've made lately. Well done :)
I hope the DERT set have as useful a practice.
Ffion took two videos of Westerhope. If you could send them round when
you've got time, that would be great.
Emails about costume and tommy to follow.
Rachel x
Last call for anyone who might like personal insurance. Details below.
S x
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Open Morris <secretary(a)open-morris.org<mailto:secretary@open-morris.org>>
Date: 2 March 2017 at 22:13:51 GMT
To: Sue <info(a)towerravens.org.uk<mailto:info@towerravens.org.uk>>
Subject: [TR Committee] JMO Insurances - Urgent Updates
Hello Sue
You’ll find some important updates below regarding JMO Insurances.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to invite you to visit and explore our new website at open-morris.org<http://open-morris.org>
As well as insurance information and other OM documents, you can now see details of OM Sides by region and by dance style, and an update on the JMO National Day of Dance 2018, which Crosskey Clog have offered to host on behalf of Open Morris.
Kind regards
Norm Warren
OM Secretary
________________________________
Personal Accident Insurance
The JMO offers access to an optional Personal Accident Insurance.
If you missed the January deadline for your whole Side, or if new members join your side before the 18th of March, you can insure them from the 26th of March at a reduced premium.
To do so, please –
* go to open-morris.org<http://open-morris.org> and follow the About Open Morris | Insurance menu
* download and complete the Personal Accident Application Form
* send it with a cheque to cover the reduced premiums, currently £2.09 per person.
Michael Stimpson will need to receive the details and the cheque on or before 18 March.
Payment direct into the JMO Account is also available as an option. Please e-mail or telephone Michael Stimpson for the bank details.
Special Circumstances
There are several circumstances in which you should take advice to ensure you have appropriate insurance cover.
These include –
* Dancing with torches, naked flame, fireworks, etc
* Dance teaching in a school
* Dancing on a visit to USA or Canada
* Organising a Ceilidh with tickets being sold to members of the public
Please telephone Michael Stimpson if you are planning any of those activities.
Further Details and Queries
Please go to open-morris.org<http://open-morris.org> and follow the About Open Morris | Insurance menu. There you will find a link to our newly-updated page of Insurance FAQs.
If you have any further queries, please remember that Open Morris Officers are not allowed to advise members on any insurance matter because we are not qualified to do so.
Instead, members should make direct contact with Michael Stimpson, who is the JMO Insurance Officer.
He is available on 01923 770425 between 11.30 am and 7pm Monday to Thursday and 11.30 to 5pm Friday.
Alternatively email StimpsonM(a)aol.com<mailto:StimpsonM@aol.com>
_______________________________________________
Tower Ravens Committee and Info List
info(a)towerravens.org.uk<mailto:info@towerravens.org.uk>
Please note the service is limited on circle, district, hammersmith and metropolitan line this weekend. Please check how you can get to practice if this will effect you!
I promise to stop emailing soon..
Becky x
Sorry, I didn't register this only came through to the committee.
Here are the trad rules for those who haven't seen them :-)
Becky xx
Sent from my Sony Xperia™ smartphone
---- Original Message ----
Subject: [TR Committee] Traditional Competition
Sent: 1 Mar 2017 9:37 p.m.
From: Crook Morris <dert2017(a)gmail.com>
To: Crook Morris <dert2017(a)gmail.com>
Cc:
Hi
The traditional competition rules and marking criteria have been on the website for a while, but I have to apologise because I haven't publicised their existence anywhere! So just incase you haven't already found it, here's a link to the traditional competition rules and marking criteria.
http://www.dert2017.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Traditional-Competitio…
It's basically the same as last year, but with one tweak.That tweak is that we've changed (with guidance from the SDU and others) how the marks are rewarded with regards to how close to the notation the dance is. This year you'll still get marks for dancing in as close a manner as possible to your notation, but there won't be any marks for accoutrements like a historical costume or character. This is to stop 'Team A' and 'Team B' scoring the same when 'Team A' look the part and visually match their notation, but don't dance very well, while 'Team B' dance almost perfectly, and in line with their notation, but haven't matched their costume to their notation.
I hope that makes sense!
We would also like your notation by Friday 25th of March. That gives us time to pass it on to the judges with enough time for them to read them all.
Good luck!
Sam
--
[http://www.dert2017.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Crook-logo.png]
Hello,
1. Hannah do you need any more info on the Morris census? If not please send off ASAP, deadline is 5th and they're hassling us. If you need anything give me a shout and I'll see if I can figure out the answer. Let's be honest, it doesn't really matter.
2. Trad rules are out. Same as last year but weight taken away from costume and character (good stuff). Please note the notation needs to be in by 25th March. Rachel do you have this to check, make any changes and submit?
Thanks! Xx
Sent from my Sony Xperia™ smartphone
Hello all,
Big thank you for the patience with the metronome practice last night, although it makes me look like a total maniac I think it was very good practice and really proved some points about pace and really listening. I think if we keep doing that at a solid 140 we should get really comfortable with it and then the whole thing will be awesome [😊]
Special thankyou to Kate, I know how hard playing to a metronome can be, especially if the speed has ended up being faster than you're necessarily used to (as turns out our dance has always been faster in the second half!).
Kit - Sue made a very good point about joint jubilee for the showcase - do we have enough petticoats and sashes??
Please correct this list if it is wrong for what people currently have and will be dancing in the double jubilee:
Katherine: petticoat and sash
Jo S. : petticoat and sash
Hannorah: petticoat and sash
Laura S: petticoat and sash
Becky: petticoat and sash
Hannah: petticoat and sash (x2 for both??)
Laura W: petticoat and sash
Reesha: petticoat and sash
Ffion: petticoat and sash
Rachel-Anne: sash??
If that is all correct it's only Rachel-Anne who we need to sort out. I'm assuming she could wear one of the petticoats that Hannah has as the beauty of elastic is basically one size fits all! Not absolutely sure you have your own sash in which case are there any going spare anywhere? Or can we steal/convert a man sash?
Rachel I know you're gutted you won't be dancing but you'll be so preggers by then I don't think it's worth the risk. I want to work a way of getting you in for the final curly - and display at the same time as Sue, if that is ok with you? I know you were talking Sue last night about figuring something out so I'm basically leaving that to you. Potentially your sash doesn't need to be exactly the same so we don't need to worry about identical fabric??
Please correct if any of this is wrong so we can fill in gaps as soon as possible. Fabric is very limited!
Saturday:
10AM Westerhope Start. We're rubbish at starting with people dribbling in for the first half hour. Please, please really try and get there for 10 to get shoes on and be starting ASAP. Kate I know you're coming from far away and as musician we don't necessarily need you first thing, 10 would be lovely, if it's 10.30 it won't be a disastor or anything. Westerhope team will then practice solidly until 12-12.30 and then break for lunch. After this the DERT set will steal Hannah back to work on Piccadilly but Westerhope will continue to work on the dance. Potentially with some swapping in and out of people. Westerhope set I imagine will stop around 4ish, DERT set probably more like 6 (but we'll just have to go with the flow).
DERT set 12.30 arrival: I will be there for the entire day to try and help with Westerhope, if anyone else wants to do that please do come along, we know how useful spectators are! If not please arrive for 12.30 where we will have lunch and talk about what we want to do with the next few hours.
At some point (helpful I know!) I want to do double jubilee as we will actually have everyone there! The main focus will be getting Sue and Rachel in at the end (need to try and remember what we did that one time..) and just practice that a few times till we feel confident. And then do the dance through a few times together with the ending. I will also look at the numbers available and try and figure out sets so we can practice in those sets and make sure they're fairly balanced.
Hannorah - I'm sorry to hear about your chest it sounds awful! Let us know if you can't make practice on Saturday, there's no point hurting yourself further.
Hope that all makes sense. I'm not sure if everyone is in a position to buy tickets to Kendal yet but if possible to get this sorted sooner rather than later we can figure out exactly how much we can give people back. If possible can we have them bought by next Monday??
Thanks all,
Becky
Hi All
Thanks to everyone who made the crawl yesterday night, despite transport disruptions.
I'll count the money and pay it in, to spare Sue carrying coins around with her back injury. So guesses please. But remember we only did four pubs and it was fairly slim pickings, so don't get carried away. :-)
Oh other thing to say is that as there's about another 6 or 7 pubs we didn't get round, or wouldn't let us in coz of the football, I'm very happy to re-do this area again soon.
Hx
Sent from my iPhone
