Dance Teams
Dance Teams 2026
Saturday
Bampton Traditional Morris, Exeter Morris, Cogs & Wheels
11.00 - 11.45 The Devonshire Inn, Sticklepath
12.15 - 1.00 The Kings Arms, South Zeal
1.15 - 2.00 The Oxenham Arms, South Zeal
Plus Afternoon Arena Performances
Sunday
Bampton Traditional Morris, Otter Morris, Tinners Morris
11.45 - 12.15 St Andrews Church, South Tawton
1.00 - 1.45 - The Kings Arms, South Zeal
Plus Afternoon Arena Performances
One of the original Bampton teams with a history stretching back at least 400 years and perhaps as far as 600 years. We dance the Bampton tradition, of course, in the Cotswold style with handkerchiefs and music from fiddles and melodeons.
Exeter Morris
Exeter Morris, a member of the Morris Ring, is Devon's oldest Morris side. We were founded in 1951 and celebrate our 75th anniversary this year. Each summer, in our black top hats and green waistcoats, we bring Cotswold Morris to town and festivals across Devon and beyond. We've danced at major UK folk festivals, toured across Europe and are regulars at the Exeter Craft Festival, the Devon County Show and the Colyford Goose Fayre. Since 2022 we've been Exeter's first mixed Morris side, welcoming all dancers. Our repertoire spans around 40 traditional Cotswold dances from villages such as Adderbury, Bledington, Ilmington and Lichfield.
Otter Morris
Otter Morris are a dynamic Border style morris side based in the Otter Valley of East Devon. Established in 2016 by local rare breeds farmer Benji Upchurch and his growing group of friends the ethos of the side is to create a cheerful, bright and colourful performance of rhythm and energy based on the eccentric English cultural phenomena that is Morris dancing. The side has flourished over the last year sponsored by Otter Brewery seeing their membership grow as their dance repertoire has evolved. Their band is filled with an ensemble of local talent brimming over with a knowledge of folk tunes and an aptitude to amplify them appropriately! While resting their feet between the dances the side can be coaxed into singing a Sea Shanty or favourite song if the audience insists, especially if it’s about drinking beer..Their traditional tatter coats and disguised painted faces reflect the changing colour of an oak leaf over the summer season during which they dance out in public so they are hard miss so make sure you look out of them, or just listen out for their catch phrase being yelled; “Give it some!”
South Zeal is lucky to have two Morris Dance teams, Tinners Morris and Cog & Wheels. They appear every year at the festival as well as being joined by invited teams. Both are very welcoming to new members. If you fancy having loads of fun whilst getting fit click on their links to get in touch.
Cogs & Wheels Ladies Morris were formed in 1995. We take our inspiration from Finch Foundry in Sticklepath and the surrounding Dartmoor landscape. Our costumes reflect the hues of the moor and our Beldames style of dancing is quite distinctive. Our original team of ten has grown each year and although some are relatively new to Morris dancing we believe that our enthusiasm and joy for the dance overcomes all obstacles!
Twenty years ago, after seeing the success of Cogs and Wheels, a group of lads were coerced into the Morris by Mike Palmer. As a surprise to everyone, Tinners is still going strong-ish. We are a group of local friends committed to the tradition of dancing; with some energy, whilst having fun and giving entertainment to audiences. We are proud to represent North Dartmoor and to regularly support the Dartmoor Folk Festival which remains the very best in the country.
It's good to see some of the younger generation in the Side, but we are always looking for new local fellas to join the merry crew.