Brackley Morris Dancers

The Boys of Brackley revive an ancient Northamptonshire folk tradition.

The old folk dance traditions had been dying out since at least the First World War but at Brackley in Northamptonshire we find a group of boys who have chosen to revive their local dances and show us an ancient bean setting dance. Fresh from their success at the National Folk Festival held at the Royal Albert Hall one of the boys of Magdalen College School admits that learning a complex traditional folk dance is one of the few things that a boarder at the school can enjoy.

The revival in interest in folk dancing at Magdalen College School was due to teacher Roger Nicholls who formed a Morris dancing side in 1959. The previous Brackley Morris side had performed until around 1920. Two surviving members of that group were traced by Nicholls to ensure that the dances were accurately recreated.