DANCE | Wimborne Minster Folk Festival

DANCE

Wimborne Minster Folk Festival transforms the historic Dorset market town into a vibrant hub of rhythm and colour over the weekend. As one of the most beloved events in the region, the Festival is a true celebration of heritage, bringing the town's streets alive with the sound of bells, clogs, fiddles and more!

Like to know more about the different dance styles? Scroll down the page.

Plus, check out hundreds of photos from 2025, here.

Sides dancing in 2026 will appear on this page. So far we have...

Alton Morris is a mixed Border side based in Alton, Hampshire. They are known for their lively dancing and their colourful red and green tatters that match their red and green faces. This year they are celebrating their 35th anniversary of performing Border.

Anonymous Morris are an energetic Border Morris team who dance in purple tatter jackets and black top hats. They practice in Parkstone, Poole and always welcome new dancers and musicians.

Aurora are an Appalachian step team based in Exeter, who love to dance. Wearing colours seen in an aurora, they perform their high-energy dance routines at various festivals and fayres across the country, incorporating both traditional and flat-footing styles.

Blackrock School of Irish Dance is a traditional Irish dancing group, originally founded as Yetminster Irish dancers back in 1972, by Mrs Pamela Common. Now run by Ellie Branson, for the last 8 years, based in Stoke sub-Hamdon, classes run on a Saturday morning 10:00 - 10:45 for beginners at the Stoke sub-Hamdon youth and family centre. Ages 3 -18, every ability welcome.

East Kent Morris was founded in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. They wear red, white and blue. They dance Cotswold, with a repertoire of more than 30 dances, and have been a mixed side for nearly a decade.

Exeter Morris was founded in 1951 and is Devon’s oldest Morris side. Each summer, in their distinctive green waistcoats, they bring Cotswold Morris to towns and festivals across Devon and beyond. They are regulars at Exeter Craft Festival, the Devon County Show and Colyford Goose Fayre. Since 2022 they’ve been Exeter’s first mixed Morris side, welcoming all dancers. Their repertoire spans around 40 traditional Cotswold dances, including Adderbury, Bampton, Bledington, Ilmington and Lichfield.

Festus Derriman are a mixed Cotswold Morris Side from Weymouth who wear white with green and yellow tatters together with decorated headwear, straw hats usually for the ladies and top hats for the men.

Fleet Morris are a Cotswold side from North Hampshire, who celebrated their 40th anniversary last year. Their colours are blue, yellow and white. All dancers are female, with musicians of any gender. We welcome new members from September, if you would like to join us. Great fun, friendship and days of dance.

Gidderskins are an exciting and innovative Border Morris side from Hereford. Performing Traditional English Folk Dances with a modern twist, Gidderskins offer both original and existing dances, with an aesthetic focus on the natural world and folklore.

Hobos Border Morris is a vibrant and dynamic female Border Morris side based in Poole, Dorset. Since their formation in 1993, they have been entertaining audiences with high-energy performances, rhythmic stick clashes, and bold, eye-catching attire. With a passion for tradition and a flair for the theatrical, they bring a unique blend of history and fun to the world of Morris dancing.

Knickerbocker Glory Appalachian dancers are based in Farnham in Hampshire. They dance a variety of choreographed dances to live music with some freestyling. They are a mixed team and dance in tap shoes and wear blue or black with distinctive multi-coloured waistcoats.

Lodestone Border Morris is a fun, friendly and inclusive mixed Morris side based in Tavistock, West Devon. They dance in the traditional Border Morris style with tatter coats, top hats, bells, boots and wooden sticks. Their kit colours are black, dark green, turquoise and the shiny colours of minerals and metals from their local mining heritage. Their badge is the Tinners' Rabbits (three hares) symbol found in churches and buildings across Dartmoor. During the summer they perform at pubs, fairs, festivals and events across West Devon and sometimes beyond (like Wimborne!).

They always welcome new dancers and musicians.

Mayflower Morris is a team from Ash Vale on the Hampshire/Surrey border, dancing in the North West clog morris style. Originating in the mill towns of Lancashire in the 19th century as a processional dance, North West is now one of the most popular morris genres, performed all around the UK. It consists of intricate dance movements, accompanied by percussive footwork, with the dancers using garlands, sticks and slings to add visual interest, all accompanied by energetic tunes played on accordion, concertina, fiddle and drum.

Morena Slovak Dance Company, founded by Andrea Okely in London in 2001, has spent nearly 25 years bringing the vibrant spirit of Slovak folklore to audiences across the United Kingdom. The ensemble regularly appears at folk festivals and cultural events, uniting Slovak, Czech, and British performers based in London and its surrounding areas. Through lively dances, traditional music, and song, Morena celebrates the richness of Slovak heritage, performing in authentic, colourful costumes representing diverse regions of Slovakia.

No Mean Feet are a team of Appalachian dancers. They dance to ‘The Shoestring Band’ - fiddle, guitar and mandolin and have been around for over 21 years. They dance around the Dorset & Somerset area, for festivals, fetes, fairs, the WI, Morris meet-ups and more.

The Quayside Cloggies are a mixed Clog-Morris side who dance in the North-West tradition.
Although associated with Poole Quay, currently they are based in Wimborne and during the Practice Season can be found at the Coach & Horses pub Skittles Alley on Monday evenings. Their kit is Blue & Pink.

Samodeitsi is a vibrant Bulgarian folk dance group passionate about preserving and showcasing the rich Bulgarian traditions. Samodeitsi bring the spirit of Bulgarian folklore to life through captivating performances, colourful traditional costumes, and authentic music.

Sarum Morris are a mixed Cotswold side who perform dances largely from the Oddington, Ilmington and Bampton traditions. They wear traditional whites plus sashes in blue and gold to reflect the colours of their home city of Salisbury.

Formed in 1998, the Sidmouth Steppers are a ladies' North West Morris side based in Devon, performing traditional, high-energy clog dances. Known for precision, they perform in brightly coloured uniforms with ribbons and clogs, raising money for charity at festivals.

Southern Star Longsword come from Corfe Mullen, and celebrate their tenth anniversary this year. The team perform a mixture of traditional and modern English longsword dances. They can easily be recognised by their colourful, yellow-backed waistcoats.

Spank The Planks was formed in 1988 and is based in Bournemouth, Dorset. They specialise in Appalachian clog dancing which is a form of American folk dancing that originated in the Appalachian Mountains. Spank The Planks have developed a unique, electrifying dance style based on traditional Appalachian steps and incorporating other percussive forms of dance.

Wyld Morris are a mixed Morris side of dancers and musicians dancing in the Cotswold tradition. The side was born in the autumn of 2010 out of a love of the Morris and the lack of a local side that would accept a woman dancer! The side made its debut performance in 2011.

The traditional costumes and dances performed by the Bulgarian Folk Dancing Group ”Zdravets“ are a way of spreading the Bulgarian culture and customs. Each costume or each dance, represents a different Bulgarian region. The audience always enjoy their performances and we are excited to be back.

Which style are they dancing? Know the difference with our guide.

Throughout the Festival weekend, numerous "sides" (dance teams) from across the country perform in and around the town centre. Traditional styles include:

Cotswold Morris: The quintessential English folk dance, characterised by white attire, bells, and the rhythmic waving of sticks or handkerchiefs
Border Morris: Hailing from the English-Welsh border, this style is known for its high energy, tattered coats (rag coats), and vigorous stick-clashing
North-West Morris: A processional style often featuring colourful costumes and clogs, historically performed by mill workers in Northern England
Clog Dancing: A percussive, solo or group style that showcases intricate footwork, with many performers wearing traditional wooden-soled footwear
Appalachian Step Dancing: An American folk tradition with roots in Irish and African dance, known for its rapid, syncopated footwork
European Styles: The Festival also welcomes international flair, often featuring guest teams performing traditional dances from across the continent

Top banner: East Kent Morris, due to appear at Wimborne in 2026.