The Buttercross Belles

Would you like to meet new friends, learn a new skill, have fun and try Morris dancing or playing with our musicians?

The Buttercross Belles are having taster evenings on Thursday 20th, 27th September and 4th October 2018.

We meet from 7.30 to 9.30pm at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Manor Square, Otley LS21 3AP.

Come along and try the stepping and learn a dance or play with the band.

Do come along on 20th September. If you'd like to know more please contact our Squire, Jaci Bowman: squire@buttercrossbelles.com

 

Otley’s women’s Morris side, The Buttercross Belles were on the Chevin with dancers from Wayzgoose and Briggate to welcome the May Day dawn and dance up the sun. Dancers were rewarded with a spectacular sunrise as they began May Day in the traditional way.

Later in the day, the Belles, with friends from Wayzgoose, led the dancing at the Otley Maypole. Despite a chilly evening, there was a good turnout, with children and adults alike enthusiastically joining in the dancing. Watched by the Town Mayor, Cllr Nigel Francis patterns were made around the Maypole with the colourful ribbons.

Jaci Bowman, The Buttercross Belles Squire, said

‘The Belles would like to thank everyone who helped with this annual community event, especially The Town Council and Billy Butlin from Otley builders, Houldsworth, who put up the ribbons for us.

Thanks also to Terry Ford, the Otley Bellman, for welcoming everyone in such style. If you enjoyed watching the Belles, come and join us. We welcome new women dancers and musicians, find out more on our website: www.buttercrossbelles.com.’

 

 

The Buttercross Belles invite everyone to come and join us for our popular community May Day event at the Otley Maypole.

There will be lots of opportunity for everyone, children and adults alike, to join in the dances with colourful ribbons to celebrate the 1st of May in the traditional way.

The Belles will also entertain with some demonstration dances.

We will be at the Maypole in the evening from 6 to 7.30 pm, do come and join us.

 

There was an excellent turnout for this year’s May Day celebration at Otley Maypole, and the sun came out too. Children, parents and the Town Mayor all enthusiastically joined in the dancing, making patterns around the Maypole with the colourful ribbons.

The dancing was introduced by the Otley Bellman and led Otley’s women’s Morris side, The Buttercross Belles. The Border Morris side, Wayzgoose, also joined in the dancing, and the afternoon ended with a May Day Mummers play performed by Otley Players.

Jaci Bowman, The Buttercross Belles Squire, said

‘The Belles would like to thank everyone who helped with this annual community event, especially The Town Council, Billy Butlin from Otley builders, Houldsworth, who put up the ribbons for us and Jamie Hudson from Futurist who kindly lent us a mobile microphone so everyone could hear the dance instructions.

This year’s May Day was particularly special for the Buttercross Belles as we are celebrating 25 years of dancing. On Friday evening current and ex-Belles dancers and musicians gathered at the Black Horse Hotel for a re-union. We had a very happy time sharing our dancing experiences, with former Belles travelling from as far away as Switzerland and France to join us’.

 

The Buttercross Belles spent a very enjoyable three days dancing in Vilnius, in Lithuania this May. As well as dancing in some lovely places, with friendly and appreciative audiences, there was also time to explore the wonderful Old Town (a World Heritage Site), with its wonderful baroque churches, beautiful squares, steets and courtyards, and lovely wooded setting.

Thank you to the Vilnius Tourist Information Bureau and friends in Vilnius for their help in organising our visit.

The wet weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of the children and parents who turned out to join The Buttercross Belles, to celebrate May Day in the traditional way, dancing at the Otley Maypole. The Otley Bellman announced the event and the Mayor of Otley handed out sweets to all the children who took part.

Buttercross Belles member, Serena Hardman who led the dancing said:

‘It was a lovely occasion due to the willingness of the children, and their parents to get involved. Their smiling faces and enthusiastic skipping whilst making patterns with the colourful ribbons made the event a real success.

The Belles would like to thank everyone who helped with this annual community event, especially Billy Butlin from Otley builders, Houldsworth, who put up the ribbons for us and Jamie Hudson from Futurist who kindly lent us a mobile microphone so everyone could hear the dance instructions.’

 Sunday 1 May 2.00-4.00pm 2016

The Buttercross Belles, a local team of Morris dancers, invite parents to bring their children to help us celebrate May Day in the traditional way by dancing round the Maypole at Cross Green in Otley.

 There will be a few demonstration dances followed by opportunities for children, parents and grandparents, friends and neighbours to join in dances with ribbons around Otley’s historic Maypole.

For more information contact: secretary@buttercrossbelles.com

 See you there!

Come along on Thursday 7th & 14th January 2016, 8-10 pm to give Morris dancing a try with The Buttercross Belles, when we will be practising stepping and learning a new dance.

Contact Clare King: squire@buttercrossbelles.com

Practices are held at: St Joseph’s School, Manor Square, Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS21 3AP

www.buttercrossbelles.com

Get fit, make new friends, Morris dance, come and give it a try!:)

Its been a busy weekend for the Buttercross Belles.

We had a fantastic Mayday with the local children from Otley, joining us at the Maypole.

..and then Sunday was spent at theOtley Street Fair / Tour de Yorkshre

The Buttercross Belles celebrated Mayday dancing traditional Maypole dances around the Maypole in Otley. A big thank you goes to Anita from Wayzgoose who kindly called the maypole dances, and to Flash Company who joined us for the evening. We had a good number of local school children and their parents and even Otley local MP, Greg Milholland came out to watch. 

A lovely start to summer.