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History (these are the facts as far as we know!)  

“Did you see those Molly Dancers on Monday good fellow?”

“Oh aye, that I did Sir”

“Tell me then good fellow what were their names that I might report their disgraceful antics to the Reeve and Minister” 

“I’m sorry good Master but I can’t do that for their faces were all black and I knew not a one of them”.                

Founded in 1984 , Black Dog Molly is a team of male and female Morris dancers and musicians based in Stoke-on-Trent. (Thanks to Doug and Annie – contact us if you read this.) and we bring our own interpretation to this traditional style  of dancing (we make it up as we go along!!) Molly dancing is the earthy unsophisticated style of Morris Dancing native to East Anglia and the Fens.  It has been described as both “Morris dancing with a difference” and Morris with attitude. We liken it to a cross between a country-dance and a drunken brawl!!         

Plough Monday, the first Monday after Epiphany, dancers would drag a plough to the local landowner’s house and dance outside demanding money. If none was forthcoming, they would plough up his front lawn. A Royal Charter exists, permitting them to do this. (honest) 

Many of the dancers were actually employed by the landowners and not wishing to be recognised they would blacken their faces with soot and decorate their “Sunday Best” clothes with ribbons and scarves by way of a disguise and some (the Molly)  even went to the extreme of wearing women's clothes

Although we have some stick dances in our repertoire most Molly dances are performed without. The Molly Special, traditionally performed with large handkerchiefs tied together, is danced uniquely by us with ropes. 

As there have been few Molly dances ever written down, we perform dances borrowed from other traditions and make up some of our own. All of our dances are performed with a great deal of whooping and shouting (if we have enough breath). Asked why we do this, we can all give different reasons – extreme exhibitionism; a desire to amuse and entertain; to keep the tradition of the ancestors alive, but perhaps it is just terminal lunacy or a combination of any of the above.

Without doubt we all agree that it is extremely good fun!!