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Contact Us |
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Do you want MTM to dance at your event? Check our calendar then contact: Stan Bookout, Squire Home: 612-377-1414 E-mail: The Squire |
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We’re always looking for new knees!
MTM rehearses at the Tapestry Folk Dance Center most Tuesdays at 7:30pm, between mid-January and October 1st. You can come watch us dance and talk with our foreman. We admit “apprentices” once each year at the beginning of the rehearsal season.
Ed Stern, Foreman E-mail: The Foreman |
Do you want to dance with us? |
Do you want us to dance for you? |
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From the Webmaster What’s up with the Latin phrase at the bottom of the pages? Well, I was reading the “Master and Commander” series and got the lexicon for it. I found the phrase while browsing that book but hadn’t run into it in the series, yet. It means, “Now is the time for drinking”. That seemed an appropriate sentiment for a Morris team. Now, I’ve always thought a little Latin casually tossed about dresses up the day to day conversation. So, I added it to the page. Then, Larry explained that it’s a toast which, I’m guessing, is why it’s found in the writings of Horace. Classy, eh? Later my wife found the full quote from Horace, “Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus.” (Now is the time for drinking, now the time to beat the earth with unfettered foot.) Is this an early reference to Morris? Does anybody know anything about Horace and his writings? This is getting better all the time! Questions or Comments about the site Contact the Webmaster |
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Raise your glasses and toast Squire Stan! Stan was elected at the 2007 Team Ale to lead the team into the future. Sorta like being hired to herd cats. The Squire is the Morris team’s equivalent to the “club president”. He books our gigs and marshals the troop to make sure a musician and dancers are available for said same gigs. Part promoter and part producer, Squire is a job to die for. Or is it “in”? |
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Stan Bookout |
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Squire |
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Meet the Fellas. |
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Ed Stern |
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Foreman |
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There is only one founder. There is only one Ed. He lives for folk dancing. He is the keeper of the faith. He runs our rehearsals—when Larry lets him. Ed Writes! Here are two quotes from traditional Morris dancers. “They capered as high off the ground as that table, always as high as they could. Then the sweat ran down their faces. “ “In jumping, start off both feet and keep them touching side by side when they come to the ground. “ And this excellent description of a Morris dancer from Cecil Sharp "Above all, the performers must be infected with the true spirit of the dance. The Morris is something more than a severe, cold, unemotional dance, even if it cannot justly be called a merry, exuberant one. The movements, though forceful, masculine and strong, must nevertheless be easily and gracefully executed, with restraint, too, and dignity, and even solemnity at times. The ability to do this is not easily acquired. Grace and strength are qualities not usually associate together, nor easily combined in the proper proportion. The dancer must have complete control over his limbs, and attain a balance and supple poise of body which the tyro cannot expect to acquire until, after prolonged practice, the coordinated movements of arms, body and feet have become automatic." (Cecil Sharp in "The Morris Book, Part I," published in 1912, pages 43-44.) --Ed Email the Foreman! |
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The Bagman, or “Bag”, is the team treasurer. Money in and money out, it all passes through the bag—a slightly cooler version of the time-honored cigar box. |
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Larry Klueh |
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Bagman |
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The Ragman, aka “Rag”, is the Morris team’s equipment manager. He makes sure the team has hankies, kits, practice and performance sticks. If it’s a thing owned by the team, he is it’s master. A true Lord of the Things. |
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Bill Way |
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Ragman |
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Derek does what only Derek can do. He’s our liaison to Mid-America Festivals owner of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. A true Renaissance Man. We love him like the Brother that he is. |
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Derek Phillips |
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Festavius |
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(They ain’t Good. They’re just Morris!) |
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Email the Squire! |
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Email the Bagman! |
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Email the Ragman! |
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Email Festavius! |