Great Caper News

The Great Caper is pleased to have been asked to provide the tutors for the school workshop aspect of the Dinosaurs Not Allowed 2010 event in Weymouth on Sat 25th September.  Work has started with 2 schools in Sedgemoor, Somerset and 4 schools in Dorset.

The Great Caper's co-ordinator, John Clifford, was nominated for an award following the success of the Dinosaurs Not Allowed event in Weymouth Sept 2009.  John was acting independently of the Great Caper in his voluntary role as Olympics Representative for Open Morris.  He co-ordinated the Dinosaurs Not Allowed event on behalf of the Joint Morris Organisations - Open Morris, the Morris Federation and the Morris Ring.  The Dinosaurs Not Allowed event is planned to run again next year and it is hoped that local schools will be able to take advantage of workshops provided by the Great Caper in 2010.  Further information about the award can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/8316159.stm

A Day of English Country dancing for Bristol Primary Schools could be back on the agenda.  Waitrose in Henleaze has agreed to support the project in it's Henleaze store during November, on behalf of the Great Caper, a not for profit organisation aimed at reintroducing English traditional dance and customs back into the mainstream community.  Kim Woodward, Dance Director for the Great Caper said ' The Children's Day of Dance is an important and unique part of our culture and it should run again.  It is an opportunity for Bristol's primary school children to dance together to a live folk band and caller in the open air.'  The likely venue is Blaise Castle.

Swindon and Dorset have taken up the Morris challenge in 2009.  Great Caper tutors worked with children and adults at Bishopstone Primary School in Swindon with a 6 week project leading to displays at school and in the local area.  In Dorset Great Caper tutors were able to teach a Wild Hunt dance called Maiden Castle to children living locally to Maiden Castle.

The Great Caper has once again worked with South Gloucestershire Council during 2008. Seven schools took part in the Rural Schools project and two schools took part in a Morris and Mumming project. We look forward to further participation with South Gloucestershire Council.

The first Creating the Leaders workshop was held in Christchurch, Dorset in 2007 and was very successful. Course attendees included musicians, Beaver and Guide leaders, a primary school teacher and dance tutors. All from the same area, most people were coming together for the first time. Initial feedback shows that a junior dance side now has access to more musicians, the primary school has linked in with dance tutors and musicians and Beavers will be having fun with sticks very soon!

For more information on any of the above tel 0117 940-1566 or email greatcapermorris@aol.com