Cat’s Eye was formed in 2005, as a Border Morris side. Unlike Cotswold Morris (the bells and hankies sort), Border Morris was not well-documented., and this has meant that sides wanting to dance in this way have been much more free to develop their own styles in terms of dances, music, kit and so on. This is just what Cat’s Eye have done, and what has emerged is something which is lighter and faster than most, and very much their own. In fact, it’s now so different from modern border style (tattercoats and lots of noise) that we no longer call ourselves a border side. We do what we do - and that’s how traditions start.  

 

Cat’s Eye’s dances were nearly all written recently, mostly by our ex-foreman De (now sadly no longer with the side). We use mostly well-known traditional tunes, all with a powerful rhythm and mostly in minor keys. The band consists of John and Louisa on fiddles, Kevin on flute, Sal on guitar, and Steve on guitar and harmonica. There are no squeezeboxes or drums, which in itself is quite unusual for a morris side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                         

                                                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dances

BEETLECRUSHER

A lovely 6 person dance written by De to the tune of  Danse Vannetaise (usually known as Twiglet)

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Taught to us by Sally, this is a gem of a dance which caused much confusion while we were learning it, until the collective penny dropped. It is danced to the Bear Dance.

 

 

NELSON’S BLOOD

Another dance from De, and a chance for the band to show off their singing prowess with a lusty rendition of the old shanty Nelson’s Blood (which puts te dancers off no end).

 

 HACCOMBE                                     

 Written by Grimspound and passed on to us via Beltane,  dance  which epitomises “order out of chaos” – mostly chaos.

 The tune is The Lost Pint (very sad).

TIDEFORD HALL

Yet another of De’s dances, using a tune written by Pauline called Trent Bridge. Tideford is the name of the village where we practice, and it’s pronunciation is a source of endless argument. Is it Tideford? Is it Tiddyford?

The debate goes on......

 

PASS THE BUCK

A jolly little dance for 6,  written by De, done to the tune of Balquidder Lasses.

TOPSY TURVEY

Named in honour of Topsy, who serves us with our excellent pints of Skinner’s Poppy at the British legion on practice nights.

 

WHEAL HONEY

Another of De’s dances, named after the site of a local mine which produced lead and silver back in the nineteenth century.

 

 

WEASEL’S REVENGE

A new dance (written by Pauline) to the tune of the same name. Weasel’s Revenge is a brilliant tune which was written by Jan Hurst of Wicket Brood Morris for the dance (also from Wicket Brood) called Worcestershire Monkey.

 

 

CAULDRON

This used to be our signature dance, written by De, incorporating the famous Cat’s Eye Crossover (useful for waking up the audience and frightening those of a nervous disposition). The tune is the Gloucester Hornpipe.

LAZY SWAN

Dark and moody, this dance uses a repeated chord sequence laid down by the guitar, with the fiddle and flute improvising around it. It was written by De whilst she was a dancer with Wreckers, and the guitar part was written by Eddy Mayhew (another sadly-missed ex-member). Somehow it’s never been the same without Eddy to play the music, so this one is now retired .

 

WHITE LADIES ASTON

Based on a traditional dance, and taught to us by Aly, our ex-foreman, this is danced to the morris version of Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s in the process of being “reworked” and will be back again soon.

 

We’ve also got a few dances which we’re “resting”.