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What is a widder?
To most people a widder is slang for the infamous black widow spider, but to those who have seen us in action a widder is a strange looking creature covered in coloured rags, wearing a top hat and waving a stick, whilst jumping around under the influence of a good ale, frantically trying to dance border morris.
The story so far...
During the 2001 Guildford festival a group of friends were reunited after many years. Some of the group were old bikers (still into bikes, but much slower now!). One of the group, Rockin Robin remarked that we used to look like the Black Widows, a mob of bikers in the Clint Eastwood film 'Every Which Way But Loose'. He then coined the phrase 'weem am the widders', Chepstow dialect for 'we are the widows'. For those of you who haven't yet seen the film, the black widows were a hapless, misfortunate bunch, feared throughout the land, who's every attempt at success was sadly thwarted by the intervention of fate, and the occasional orang-utan! Anyway on with the story, it was suggested that we try to organise a border morris dance side in the Chepstow area, everyone greeted this idea with great enthusiasm and started cursing, swearing, and throwing empty beer cans around. The more we drank, the more the idea became feasible. So with the parallels illustrated, it was decided that we would adopt the Black Widows catch phrase, call ourselves The Widders, and set about creating The Widders Border Morris side. ...WEEM AM THE WIDDERS, FEARED THROUGHOUT THE LAND!
Click here for lyrics to The Widder song...
Unlike the above mentioned film. The Widders are not a bike gang or club, nor are we greasers, or hells angels, we are ordinary friendly loonies, who love to sing, play music, and dance border morris. An easy going mixed side who welcomes anyone who doesn't take life too seriously!
Where are we now?
At present The Widders are dancing all over the country at various festivals and dance weekends. We are working on some new dances in the Border style based on local places and industry. We are based in the Chepstow area, which is on the estuary of the River Wye (Afon Gwy) and the River Severn, bordering both Avon and Gloucestershire.
We have members from local and surrounding areas including dancers from the Full Moon Morris, Winterbourne Down Border, Forest of Dean Morrismen and Silhill Border Morris. Our band is growing all the time and we now have Guitar, Banjo, Melodeon, Fiddle, Sousaphone, Drums, Washboard, and are currently looking for a second Melodian player.
We are a social side, always willing to dance out with other Morris sides of any denomination. We welcome new members, musicians or potential dancers, male or female.
(Mickwidder)
Dance Kit
Top Hat: Adorned with spiders, cobwebs, mirrors, and various other trinkets
Rag jacket: Blue, purple, silver, and black rags
Leg Bells: Various wool or rag tassels and bells
Black Trousers: Girls can wear net skirts (lads may wear net skirts if they so wish)
Black Boots: (usually Doc Martins)
Dancers Face Paint: Black
Musicians Face Paint: Black, blue or purple, or any combination of the three
Practice!
At present we practice in Caldicot, 5 miles from Chepstow. We usually meet for practice on a Thursday evening at 7.30 til 10pm (contact us for venue). Our practice season begins in September and runs until April each year.
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