Kingsessing Morris Men
1977
& 44 Years Dancingncing

 

If you're interested in learning morris dance with Kingsessing you should contact us
Joe Passante Bill Quern Jan Alter

Schedule
  
The team will be dancing at these events
May Day

Watch the team's virtual composite video
here

 

3 just published videos for the New Year 2021


Worcestershire Monkey 2013

Twiglet 2013 at the Firebird

Taking at Narberth 2013

Garb for a coronavirus May Day

 

 

STAY WELL
&

help one another

 

 

 

WASSAILING THE APPLES

January 26, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

The K-Men and the Molly Dancers joined together on a relatively balmy Sunday to dance at Terhune Orchards for the traditional
Wassailing of the Apples. Lots of spectators and free donuts, cider, and a warming wood log fire helped to
make it a lively and fun event.
If You'd like to see the K-men dancing at the Orchards click

here

 

1st Place WINNERS
in the 2020 MUMMERS DAY PARADE


Interestingly enough there are morris teams in England that wear flowered hats all the time.
Kingsessing won 1st place with their 1 minute dance out of 19 entries. You can watch them
dancing by clicking on the word
link

 


 

Phoenixville Spring Festival
June 2, 2019

Morris dancing in Phoenixville on Bridge Street caught the attention of many folks who
apparently had no idea what kind of dancing was being done. Still, there were lots of
smiles and applause. And the team broke its own record for making two pub stops in
less than two hours. Not a bad terpsichoreal afternoon.

 

 

CHESTNUT HILL HOME AND GARDEN FESTIVAL
2019

May 19, 2019

 

Lots of folks came out for the festival and Kingsessing put out for them with a nice variety of dances.
A zumba and modern dance group shared the trolley track stage with the K-men and made the event
that much more interesting and enjoyable to watch

 

MAY DAY

2019

 

 

Watch channel 3's Interview
of May Day 2018

 

DANCING AT THE FARM
after the deep freeze
Feb 2, 2019

The K-men danced at Terhune Orchards, in Princeton, NJ,on Ground Hog Day, for the
farm's annual Wassailing to the Apple Trees event along with Handsome Molly, and
Green River Tap & Die, from New England. It was fine event and a nice opportunity to finally
enjoy the outdoors in moderate winter temperatures compared to the polar vortex ones
that had to be endured only a few days previously.

 

 

 

KINGSESSING WINS 3rd PLACE
at the
MUMMERS DAY PARADE 2019

 

 

 

Watch the team dancing in the Parade by

Clicking Here

 

FIREBIRD FESTIVAL 2018
PHOENIXVILLE, PA



Dancing at the field where the Phoenix will be fired. This picture seems to show plenty of light
but it was actually half as bright giving the dancers a lot more thought to both carefully
clashing their sticks to each other and dancing.

 

 

The Kingsessing Morris Men dancing at Bryn Mawr College's
May Day celebration about 15 years ago.

 

 

Listen to an Interview with Kingsessing, and Mike McGrath
just before May Day, about 15 years ago on
You Bet Your Garden

on WHYY radio

 

 

 

Mummers Day Parade 2016

The Kmen's thematic dance in 2016 paired the destruction of the worldly traveling Hitchbot when it
came to Philadelphia during the summer and the Pope's good will visit to the city later in early fall.
Both visits were intended as something positive to benefit humanity and that was something
Kingsessing wanted to celebrate a little more.

 

Click below for more
    About morris dancing


 

Morris dancing originated in England about 800 years ago, before Christianity took a solid hold on the countryside. The dancing was done at springtime by the farmers to celebrate the planting season and the "rebirth" of life. The spirits of the sun, rain, and earth were called upon to be plentiful to the folk who worshipped them.
Kingsessing Morris Men springs from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas from where it began in 1977. The team's dancing was originally done in the springtime with vigor, in the hopes that the planting season will be bountiful, and that those who view the dance will have good fortune. Bells are worn on the knees to wake the ground. Through the years the dancing has evolved into a year long tradition, dancing for any festive occasion that could bring enjoyment 		Traditionally handkerchiefs beckon the sun to shine, and the sticks chase the evil spirits from below to awaken the earth. The team dances primarily in the spring touring to parks, schools and the city; but also performs during the other seasons too at various festivities such as fairs, weddings, and get-togethers. The team dances regularly in the Philadelphia Mummers Day Parade, and lately in the Phoenixville, PA, Firebird Festival in early December.
The team is currently accepting new members who will be instructed n the styles of Bleddington, Ducklington, and Fieldtown traditions. Practice is on Monday nights from September through May near Ardmore, Pa.

 

Videos of the Team

Contact Us

Joe Passante

Bill Quern

Jan Alter

This is back in 2001, when the team danced at a public school in Philadelphia on May Day. Folks often ask why members of the team dance morris. Reasons vary but for just about everyone who does it the common theme is they're having fun.

 

Kingsessing History
May 1979

The team's first kit (uniform) sported knickers and suspenders. This was May Day
at Bryn Mawr College, as the team began their second year performing.