Traditions
While dancing is the company’s main performance, we’ve revived and interpreted many Welsh folk traditions including the Mari Lwyd, Hunting the Wren, Rappers and The Mummers’ play.
Dances
Centuries ago folk dancing was popular throughout Wales. However, during the 18th and 19th centuries, due to Nonconformist influence, dancing was considered sinful and fell out of favour.
In the 1920s there was a renewed interest in folk dancing
as a result of the efforts of the Urdd (Welsh League of
Youth). In 1949 the Welsh Folk Dance Society was formed to
promote and revive the old dances and create new ones.
Today, through competition and festivals, folk dancing has developed in to a lively and colourful part of Welsh culture.
Costumes
The costumes worn by folk dancers are a very important element in folk dancing. We have made good use of the costume collection and the advice of the staff at the Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans.
Our main costume is based on clothes worn by the “working
class” people of South Wales during the early 19th
century.
The women’s costume consists of a “betgwn” (bedgown) and a “pais” (skirt) made of traditional Welsh flannel. A white blouse with a shawl effect collar, a white apron and bonnet complete the outfit.
The tall Welsh hat is maybe the most well known article of
Welsh folk costume. We have had some hats made based on an
1850s example seen at the Museum of Welsh Life’s collection.
Men wear black knee breeches, a white shirt and a black flannel waistcoat from the same period.
Other costumes are used for specific dances for example we have a collection of original Welsh shawls from the 19th century which are used in the court dance “Meillionnen”.
Music
Suitable music is an essential element of folk dancing, and we have a wealth of traditional folk melodies in Wales. Normally a specific tune is played for each dance and sometimes a second air or countermelody is added as a variation to the music. We have a large selection of melodies within our repertoire which has been carefully assembled for the dances.
As well as melodies from old music collections and manuscripts we
also use new melodies composed specifically for more recent
dances. These new tunes are based on traditional Welsh folk music.
Our band of experienced musicians have the flair to create the ambiance required for the dance be it a court, fair or other form of dance.
Our band is made up of a variety of instaments including, fiddle, flute, doublebass, accordian, tabard and the Welsh triple harp. The use of the latter was promoted in the court dances at Llanofer in Gwent by Augusta Hall, Lady Llanofer, in the 19th century.
Quite often our programmes include musical items which add variety to the programme and give the dancers a rest.
The Mari Lwyd
The Mari Lwyd consists of a horse’s skull on a pole covered
with a brightly decorated sheet. A group of men carry the Mari
around local houses and taverns hoping to gain entry to join
New Year’s celebrations through song.
Hunting the Wren
After hunting the Wren men would place the bird in to a little
wooden house that was brightly decorated with ribbons which was
then carried from house to house. To receive a feather plucked
from the Wren was considered very lucky.
Rappers
This is a sword dance borrowed from the North of England. The
rapper was an instrument used for scraping the coal dust from
backs of pit ponies and is an example of an agricultural tool
being adapted for industrial purposes. They were used on the
farms in Wales until recently.
The Mummers Play
The play was collected at the village of Llantwit Major in the
Vale of Glamorgan. It has been adapted somewhat over the years
and it has been part of the vale tradition for many centuries.