Welcome to the website of Nancy Butterfly, a North-West Morris Dance side who are based in the Redditch and Bromsgrove areas of North Worcestershire. We dance for enjoyment at local venues, mainly Pubs and Inns, and also Days of Dance within reasonable travel distance. If you would like to see us dance please check our Events Calendar. for times and locations.

For more information about us, our music, and our style of dancing go to the 'About Us' page, or see some videos here
We can occasionally be booked for events but please check our calendar and the About page for our requirements.

Visit our Facebook page

Nancy Butterfly have been dancing in red clogs for 45 years!

MUSICIANS

Following the retirement of our long-standing main musician we are in the process of rebuilding our side ready for the next 45 years! We have been fortunate in having the help of some wonderful musicians throughout the practice season, but because they are so wondeful they already have a busy list of engagements and therefore are not available for all the events we would like to take part in. So we are on the lookout for new musicians to take on a regular role for us. We have already recruited two excellent concertina players, and guitar, so are looking for instruments that would work with them.

DANCERS

Also with an eye to the future, we would love to welcome new dancers to join us. We are one of relatively few dance sides, following the North-West Morris tradition, in the Midlands. No experience is necessary, you'll be helped to learn the dances. As well as getting good exercise you will enjoy meeting new people and seeing new places when we are 'dancing out'!

If you would like further information you would very welcome to chat to us when we perform, visit us when we practice, or contact us.

*Our regular Monday evening practice venue in Autumn and Winter is Catshill Methodist Church Hall, 66 Golden Cross Lane Catshill, Bromsgrove B61 0LG (from 8.00 to 10.00pm). During the dance season (April - September) please check our calendar to confirm where we are dancing.

nancy butterfly colourful skirts and clogs

Practice sessions.

Resume in the Autumn

Interested dancers and musicians are welcome to drop in to any of our practice sessions, or come and have a chat when we are out dancing.

Next Event(s)

Sunday 27th April, Three Kings, Hanley Castle, guests of Alvechurch Morris, from 12 noon.

Monday 28th April, Dance Out at The Weighbridge, Alvechurch, 7.30 pm.

Saturday 3rd May, Upton on Severn Folk Festival, from 10 am.

weather permitting - check back here for updates

PREVIOUS EVENTS

Avoncroft Museum Bromsgrove 'Waking up to Wassailing' event Feb 22nd
Thanks to BlackAdder Morris for the invitation

6 happy dancers in column of pairs moving towards camera with sticks raised

Blackadder morris dancers and band dancing in front of half timbered museum building

one Butterfly dancer, one blackadder dancer and one visitor dancing in a 'have a go session'

8 Butterflies in column of 8 in very bright sunshine

Short clip of 'Grenoside' courtesy of David Wornham

Joint Event with the KIngfisher English Country Dance Club at the Oakenshaw Community Centre in Redditch. Feb 14th

mixed morris and folk dancers in rows learning the Preston morris dance

morris and folk dancers in a large circle prior to learning a folk dance

dancers from both teams standing and chatting in a break between moves

musicians from combined bands seated at the edge of the hall playing for a folk dance

group photograph of both teams standing together

pairs of dancers dancing a folk dance — A fun-filled evening thanks to
the hospitality of the Kingfisher Club!

Wychbold Wassail guests of Bow Brook Morris - Jan 18 2025

dancing in front of enthusiastic locals in the dark in Wychbold — A good turn out of locals who enthusiastically joined in 'Wassailing'
and singing along to our tunes

dancing Grenoside in the warmth and light of the club — 'Grenoside' in the warm!

Shanty singers in full flow — Coppice Shanty Singers giving it their all

two Butterflies relaxing — Time to relax!

3 members of different bands playing together — Social music for band members of Coppice Shanty group and Nancy Butterfly

our hosts reparing to dance outside — Nancy Butterfly thoroughly enjoyed the event and
are very grateful to Bow Brook Morris for the invitation.
We also really enjoyed dancing with 'Hawthorne and Hare' Morris
whose first dance-out this was, and watching the
energetic Coppice Shanty group plus talented singer Evanora Rose!

Lichfield Festival of Folk 2024

Nancy Butterfly dancing in front of other sides in the cathedral close — 'Show Dance' before the parade begins

2 Butterflies surveying the scene of large groups of dancers in front of the silhouetted cathedral — 2 of the 3 impressive spires

dancing in front of the impressive facade of the cathedral — yet more sunshine!

the group seated in front of the tree lined dam with the cathedral in the background — taking the opportunity of a short break

2 members of a Ukrainian dance team in action — Ukrainian Folklore Dance Group “Mriya”

a very crowded street as the teams line up at the end of the parade — Butterflies still going strong at the end of the parade - video thanks to John Harvey here

Black Adder Morris 40th Anniversary Day of Dance September 28th 2024

general view of Nancy Butterfly dancing in the concourse at New Street Station Birmingham amongst crowds of travellers — The busy Concourse New Street Station

closer view of Butterflies dancing in front of the enormous Commonwealth Games Bull — Dancing in front of 'Ozzy' the Commonwealth Games Bull

video here

picture of a set of a dozen Black Adder Morris dancers dancing in their characteristic gold and black rag jackets — Our hosts Black Adder Morris

Set of Nancy Butterfly dancing outdoors in Selly Oak Birmingham in front of new buildings — Selly Oak, Birmingham

Nancy Butterfly dancing in Bournville Green amongst the atmospheric shops and trees — Bournville Village

2 Nancy Butterfly Dancers standing in front of the Commonwealth Bull in 'Grand Central' Birmingham — Ozzy plus 2

Shakespeare Morris's Day of Dance - Stratford Upon Avon

Celebrating 65 years of Shakespeare Morris Dancers, 90 years of the Morris Ring, and raising funds for the Shakespeare Hospice

group photograph with the mayor of Stratford shortly after their exhibition dance in front of all the other sides — End of the day with the Mayor of Stratford cllr. Jason Fojtik and the Squire of the Morris Ring, Nigel Strudwick

8 dancers in 2 neat rows of 4 dancing in the gardens in Stratford, with the Shakespeare theatre in the background, against a blue sky. — Dancing our 'show' dance at the final gathering of all of the sides.

4 sunlit dancers on the pavement in front of the White Swan Hotel — Dance spot at The White Swan Hotel

Dancing in front of Shakespeare's Birthplace.
He refers to Morris Dancing in a few of his plays
but may have had difficulty recognising this as a form of Morris!

The 3 members of the band play in front of 8 dancers in action — Dancing near the Gower Memorial

set of 8 dancers in front of the bandstand in the green and wooded recreation ground

4 dancers at the edge of the canal basin with a number of passers by stopping to watch — A long way from 'Glossop', from where this dance is named.

3 members of Jockey Morris dancing on a jetty in the canal basin — Not the start of a Morris Triathlon, just Jockey Morris jigging on a jetty!

Jockey Morris in their Cotswold Morris costume dancing in a circle in front of the bandstand on the recreation ground — The full Jockey Morris experience - we enjoyed their company and humour throughout the tour

Ledbury Morris dressed in their Border Morris Tatters, dancing on the pathway alongside the canal basin in the background — We also had the pleasure of watching the talented Ledbury Morris Border side on our Tour

dozens of Morris dancers mainly in cotswold costume, dancing in the final mass dance — Final mass dance bringing to a close a truly enjoyable day. Thank you Shakespeare Morris

We are very grateful to 'Stanleys Photos', Steve Holder, and Nigel Strudwick for the photos

Dance Out - Severn Valley Railway Day of Dance - July 20th

dancers standing on a flower bedecked platform as the steam train arrives

dancers seated at tables in a vintage carriage on moving train

dancers and musicians lined up in front of a bright red steam engine in the sheds at Highley

two dancers standing on a platform with two large diesel engines in the background. A uniformed member of station staff looks on.

two dancers leaving the victorian decorated waiting room. One stands next to a bright red platform ticket machine.

dancer leaning back in her luxurious first class seat. The windows are filled with an atmospheric view of an adjacent engine's footplate with its engineers waiting to start

6 dancers sitting in a first class compartment, luxuriously fitted out with rich coloured fabric and pictures in frames

dancers and musicians performing in front of the engine sheds in Highley with some interested spectators and photographers

8 dancers performing a set in front of the engine sheds in Highley

Dance Out - Skulk Fest - Fox's Morris Day of Dance in Ludlow, Shropshire, 13th July

dancers dancing towards us with castle and audience in the background

Dancers lined up across a spacious Castle Square ready to start dancing Alvechurch — Great setting!

drone picture of the massed dance showing all participating morris sides lined up ready to start — Massed Dance. Very different view showing how neat and disciplined Morris Dancers can be!

group photo of Nancy Butterfly dancers and musicians — Thanks to Fox's for the invitation and cake!

Plum Jerkum band in full swing — Plum Jerkum's impressive band line-up

Dance Out - Aston Cantlow Club, guests of Shakespeare Morris.

Despite a damp and dreary evening we had dancing fun with Shakespeare Morris and Plum Jerkum Border Morris at the hospitable Aston Cantlow Club.

6 Shakespeare MOrris Dancers in their Cotswald attire and sticks dancing in front of a row of parked cars — Our hosts Shakespeare Morris

Plum Jerkum Morris dancers in their tatter jackets dancing on a damp surface with many puddles. — Plum Jerkum Border Morris from Warwick

2 of Nancy Butterfly dancers smiling for the camera

Evesham National Morris Weekend

It was wonderful to be part of the Evesham National Morris Weekend again, one of 35 sides from across the spectrum of Morris Dancing. Our Tour took in Worcester, Droitwich and, of course Evesham where it was a pleasure to dance alongside (and with) Ragged Oak Border Morris, Hereburgh Morris, and Sweyn’s Ey Morris. Unforseen events deprived us of some of the side on the day thereby putting some pressure on a couple of our less experienced dancers, including one first time outer! She did a great job!
Thanks are due to all involved in the organisation but we'd particularly like to thank Matthew Turvey, and also members of Belle d' Vain Morris for ensuring we were generally in the right place at the right time!

6 dancers dancing alongside the Talbot Inn in Droitwich

lineup of dancers and musicians in front of a striking floral display in Worcester — Many thanks to Alan for his photos

6 dancing Grenoside with hoops in one of Worcesters squares

dancing in the high street Worcester in front of a good audience and flags on sale ready for the Euros

Mass dance - Butterflies dancing with the other sides on the Tour in Droitwich

And it was Warm and Sunny nearly all day!

Bedcote Morris Day of Dance in Stourbridge June 8th 2024

nancy butterfly ready to dance lined up in a set of 8

see a video here of Nancy Butterfly dancing in Stourbridge (courtesy of John Harvey)

nancy butterfly dancing in one of the venues at the entrance to a shopping centre

nancy butterfly dancing by the clock in Stourbridge, a main open space in the town centre

St George's Day of Dance at the 3 Kings, Hanley Castle

team photo of all dancers and musicians from Nancy Butterfly — Great to be out and about in sunshine at last! Good to meet up with friends, old and new: Alvechurch Morris,
Silurian Morris, Old Meg, Appleyard, Ledbury Morris, Bow Brook Border Morris, So Xsighted Morris.
Brilliant dancing and lots of fun!

8 nancy butterfly dancers 2 neat lines nancy butterfly dancers casting sharp shadows in the sunshine

8 butterfly dancers in front of several watching morris sides and the band

Alvechurch Morris and Bow Brook Morris in full flow — Border sides Alvechurch and Bow Brook. Thanks to all photographers for some great images!

Aelfgythe Border Morris's Wassail in Alvechurch, Feb 3rd

The Butterflies were delighted to join Bedcote Morris, Jockey Morris, Ragged Oak, and Alvechurch Morris, as well as the Alvechurch Community Choir and the 'Sealed Knot', for Aelfgythe's wonderfully organised 'Wassail!' at the Crown and Weighbridge Inns in Alvechurch. Thanks to all those who came along to support and for the many positive comments received!

The sealed knot riflemen firing their guns

More excellent photographs from the event in the Gallery, most of which were taken by Keith Woolford to whom we offer our grateful thanks.

Lichfield Festival of Folk (L2F) 14th October

dancing in the procession with the cathedral prominent in the background — photo thanks to Steve

dancing a figure in the procession from the Cathedral — Processing in the sunshine!

dancing in the Market square in front of an appreciative crowd — Great to see so many happy spectators enjoying all the wonderful entertainment provided by dance sides from different styles and traditions.

dancers casting long shadows in bright autumn sunshine — It always seems to be sunny in Lichfield when Nancy Butterfly are in town!

dancers with lake, trees and cathedral as a backdrop — Even the cathedral wanted to join in the fun

dancers with legs raised high in 2 lines — More 'flamingo' than 'flamenco'!

dancing in a circle on a traditional stone set street — Nancy Butterfly thoroughly enjoyed the day's dancing, meeting other sides and the friendly people of Lichfield, and once again were very grateful to the organisers for their work, and for the invitation.We hope to be back next year.

Lots More Photos in the Gallery, many thanks to Mike for them, and his Trolley work!

Dance Out at the Three Kings, Hanley Castle, guests of Erstwhile Morris, 14th September 2023.

dancing the 'roundabout' in 'Alvechurch' — 'Roundabout' in 'Alvechurch'

dancing in front of tha very old Three Kings pub — A fantastic setting for a Morris gathering!

two rows of 4 dancers with sticks at shoulder height — impeccable lines!

3 pictures of the other participating groups

Dance Out at the Coach and Horses Inn, Weatheroak Hill with White Hart Morris 14th August

dancing in the garden of the Coach and Horses

9 dancers lined up ready to dance holding their flower garlands

nancy butterfly dancing with an audience including white heart morris dancers watching on

Severn Valley Railway, Day of Dance, July 29th

dancing on the platform at Hampton Loade as a train steams in from the opposite direction

dancer standing in front of an engine in the shed

dancing on the platform but watching the edge

Dancing in the Engine House

Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, Bromsgrove

dancing on a damp day amongst historic buildings

black adder morris dancing in front of the 'string of horses' building at Avoncroft — Thanks to Black Adder Morris for inviting us to dance with them at this fascinating venue!

More photos in the gallery.

Bish Bosh Bash! Summer Fete at Bishampton Villages Hall

The 'Bish Bash Bosh' is a wonderfully traditional Summer Fete in a very attractive setting on the edge of Bishampton in Worcestershire. Lots of friendly visitors made Nancy Butterfly very welcome and we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon's dancing.

audience participation lots of volunteers joining Nancy Butterfly — Lots of happy volunteers joined Nancy B. in dancing 'Abram Circle'

Volunteers enthusiastically joining in the dancing despite the heat — You can't see the heat, but it was hot! Which makes the number of volunteer participants all the more impressive, thanks for joining in the fun!

Shakespearience event, Studley

Nancy Butterfly were pleased to be able to support Aunty Jen Production's outdoor theatre event in Studley. We appreciated the amount of work that went into the day and wish the company success in progressing their very worthwhile project.

nancy butterfly dancing and being watched by White Hart Morris men

nancy butterfly dancers and band in action

Audience showing appreciation of Butterfly dancing — An enjoyable morning's dancing, great to see White Hart Morris men, still going strong
- and to enjoy their distinctive violin, pipe, and tabor band.

Stourbridge Day of Dance 2023

picture of Nancy Butterfly's clogs close up in action — Nancy Butterfly were delighted to be invited by Bedcote Morris to take part in their Day of Dance in Stourbridge. We had a full and fantastic day of dancing amidst lots of friendly dancers and spectators under brilliant Stourbridge sunshine!

Taking our turn to dance with two other morris sides — We enjoyed meeting up again with other morris sides, and it was great to see so much variety.

and version 2... Many thanks to John Harvey for these videos of 'Alvechurch'.

Dancing alongside the butchers window at Smithfield — A convenient place to dance for one dancer in preparation for a barbecue later!

A butcher's mannequin standing outside the shop — The stand-in 'squire' wasn't going to take any nonsense!

One of our former musicians now playing for Bedcote Morris — Nice to see Graham, one of our former musicians,
join in playing with us again.

Six dancers dancing 'Carr Lodge' — Thank you Bedcote for the invitation, (and the photographs),
we hope we can do it again next year.

Upton on Severn Folk Festival 2023

dancing in the arena — Our turn in the main arena! Dancing "Alvechurch"

dancing the dance Alvechurch — Blessed with glorious warm sunshine!

dancing in beautiful sunshine — A brilliant day's dancing, great to see old friends, and new - thanks Upton! Thanks to Mike for the pics.

Nancy Butterfly were pleased to support the Apple Day at Headless Cross Community Orchard

Lichfield Festival of Folk, October 15th

sitting with Penny Royal Dancers in front of the pool in Lichfield — With our friends 'Penny Royal Garland Dancers' during another fabulous day of dancing in Lichfield at the Lichfield Festival of Folk

dancing in front of the pool and cathedral Lichfield — Photo courtesy of 'Penny Royal Garland Dancers'

Bromsgrove Festival July 23rd

dancing in Bromsgrove High Street — Butterflies were delighted to contribute once again to the Day of Dance, part of the Bromsgrove Festival

Monday 27th June The Butterflies enjoyed an evening of dancing with the Alvechurch Morris Men at the Coach and Horses in Weatheroak.

the Butterflies posing with Alvechurch Morris men and visitors during their dance out at the Coach and Horses Weatheroak — Happy Butterflies, Alvechurch Morris men and visiting students from France at the Coach and Horses

Saturday 28th May. Nancy Butterfly enjoyed a super day of dance in Stourbridge thanks to Bedcote Morris!

dancing in Stourbridge — Dancing in the sunshine again

dancing in the sun at the Stourbridge Day of Dance — We really enjoyed dancing at several venues around town...

dancing in the street in Stourbridge — ....and meeting other entertaining sides!

having a rest between dances — Enjoying a well-earned rest!

More photos on our Facebook page

Video credit to John Harvey:

Saturday 30th April, Another fabulous day at the Upton on Severn Folk Festival!

dancing outside the kings head in upton on severn — Thanks to Alison for the pics

dancing in the main arena at upton on severn festival — Thanks to Alison for the pics