Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Morris Dancers from England and Kentucky - Perform at Kentucky Artisan Center

On Saturday, August 19 the National Youth Folklore Troupe of England, the Angleterre Morris Dancers from Louisville, the Squash Beetle Morris Dancers of Lexington, and the Berea Festival Dancers will perform Morris Dances from 11:00-12:00 at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. A longstanding tradition in Berea, Morris dance is an ancient English style of dancing and has been taught at Berea’s Christmas Country Dance School since 1938.

Of special interest for this performance, is the visiting National Youth Folklore Troupe of England. Twelve members of this group aged 10 through 18 will be visiting Berea, as part of a 10 day U.S. tour. They will be staying with local families, giving workshops in English music, song and dance traditions, and giving concerts. Joining this group for performances on August 19 will be Morris Dance teams from Berea, Lexington, and Louisville.

Morris dancing comes from the Cotswold region of western England and is thought to be over 600 years old. Considered ancient even in Shakespeare’s time, Morris dance is thought to be part of the world-wide family of ritual ceremonial dances that share the common features of color and vigor based on circles and processions. In the Cotswold style of Morris the men traditionally wear white clothing, have bell pads tied around ankles or knees, have crossed ribbons or baldrics across their chests, use hankies or sticks, and leap high into the air.

On Saturday, August 19 Morris Dance performances will be held at the following locations and times in Berea.   

9:00 – 9:45  –  Boone Tavern, Mains Street, Berea
10:00 – 10:45  – Berea Helath Care Center, 601 Richmond Road North, Berea
11:00-12:00 – Kentucky Artisan Center, Exit 77 off I-75, Berea
12:15 – 1:00 – Berea Welcome Center, Adams Street/ N. Broadway, Berea

The Kentucky Artisan Center is located just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from all across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov 

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.