Kingsessing Morris
1977 - 2009

A Fine Dancing Opportunity for the Season with 5 Marvelous Morris Teams

All teams will dance at Love Park, across from City Hall at 10:15 am

Kingsessing and Bouwerie Boys will tour together at Fitler Square at 1:00, Magic Gardens at 3:00, Louis Kahn at 3:45

Foggy Bottom, Millstone River and Renegade Morris will tour together at Louis Kahn at 1:00, Magic Gardens at 2:00,
Fitler Square at 3:45

All teams will meet at Rittenhouse Square at 5:15

Morris dancing originated in England about 800 years ago, before Christianity took a solid hold on the countryside. It was done at springtime by the farmers to celebrate the planting season and the "rebirth" of life. The spirits of the sun, rain, and earth were called upon to be plentiful to the folk who worshipped them. Kingsessing morrismen springs from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas from where it began in 1977. The dancing is done in the springtime with vigor, in the hopes that the planting season will be bountiful, and that those who view the dance will have good fortune.

Bells are worn on the knees to wake the ground. Handkerchieves beckon the sun to shine, and the sticks chase the evil spirits from below to awaken the earth. The team dances primarily in the spring touring to parks, schools and the city; but also performs during the other seasons too at various festivities such as fairs, weddings, and get-togethers. The team is currently accepting new members who will be instructed n the styles of Bleddington, Ducklington, and Fieldtown traditions. Practice is on Monday nights from September through May near Ardmore, Pa.

Dancing out at Bryn Mawr College
May 3rd, 2009
Despite the eventuallity of rain the morris, garland and sword teams performed with
the enthisiam that makes this event a looked forward to custom.
Kingsessing has performed at Bryn Mawr's May Day Celebration for 31 years.

 

 

WATCH the K-men DANCE ON YOUTUBE

You can watch two renditions of the 2008 New Year's Dance at these Youtube sites

site one

site two

 

If you would like to find out more information about the team
send email to

Joe Passante

Comments and questions about our web page can be directed to

Jan Alter

 

May Day '01

The Stick Toss from the dance Balance the Straw (Fieldtown tradition) has an exciting ending when done right.A few hundred children at the Lowell School, in Philadelphia, enjoyed the opportunity to share some of the morris traditions on May Day 2001 when the K-men visited their school. At this point you might be wondering why each of the men do this particular dancing.. For each of them it's the same and it's different. Cryptic? Yes.

* Pictures are of decent enough quality to copy and print should you desire

and... May Day in New Jersey

"5:45 am. Kingsessing Squire Emeritus Jamie Watson and his wife Jackie providing music for the new kids' side, Stonybrook Morris, at dawn May Day festivities in Princeton NJ. Jamie is the team's foreman, and has been teaching the kids Fieldtown hanky dances and Bledington stick dances. Also on hand were Millstone River Morris, and the ritual dance sides Handsome Molly and Griggstown Lock."