THIS year marks the 40th anniversary of Hale based dance group, the Jackstraws Morris, and the team would be delighted if the community would join them to keep this tradition going for the next 40 years.

Morris is a team dance, related to European folk dance, and done to live music, it can be vigorous but is also more subtle and engaging than people might first think.

It is also a form of exercise, and develops body control and co-ordinated teamwork in a friendly, sociable community.

In the summer Jackstraws regularly get together with other teams to dance at pubs or fetes in the area, and occasionally travel further afield to weekends of dance or folk festivals.

The group’s members are all very different – some tall, some short, some young in age, all young at heart, brought together by their love of folk music and dance.

Jackstraws would be delighted if anyone aged 16 and over would like to come along and have a go at Morris dancing at their free ‘taster sessions’ for four weeks starting on Monday (September 18).

Jackstraws meet each Monday evening at Hale Institute in Wings Road, Farnham from 8pm to 10pm for the dancing, with many members then carrying on to a local pub for a social get together afterwards.

Both men and women are welcome to the taster sessions. The group also welcomes new musicians, men or women, so if anyone plays an acoustic melody instrument and fancies playing for the dancing then do come along as well.

For more information contact Bridget at [email protected], by calling 07824 876548.