With colourful costumes, bells on their knees, holding sticks and hankies, they danced.
They were Morris dancers, appearing at The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum as part of an annual tour attended by dancers from New Zealand and Australia.
The tour is hosted each year by different clubs around New Zealand.
This year, the hosts were Tussock Jumpers Morris Dancers of Christchurch
Michelle Brown, of Geraldine Fiery Peak Morris Dancers, said the many groups involved had been having fun.
‘‘If you look around you won’t see any unhappy dancers,’’ Brown said.
Ages ranged from a 10-yearold through to a dancer in their 80s.
The dances were not for the faint hearted, requiring practice and stamina.
‘‘In some of the dances you get seconds to catch your breath and in others it’s full on from start to finish,’’ Brown said.
Morris dancing is a traditional dance found in many parts of England.
In its current form it dates back more than 500 years.
Each village had its own set of dances and its own style.
Routines can include jumps, clashing of sticks, floral garlands, waving of hankies and the signature rows of bells strapped knees or shoes.
The dance sequences tell the stories of the seasons and are performed by six or eight dancers or whole groups.
More than 60 dancers joined the ‘‘Back Country Capers’’ tour, a week-long event not only at The Plains, but also the Ashburton Domain, Methven, Leeston, Hororata, Castle Hill and Glentunnel.
At the beginning of their conference the host group teaches a couple of new dances before the group move around performing for the public.
They perform their new routine as well as individual, group performances and well-known routines performed by everyone.
A group of residents from Princes Court in Ashburton attended the performance at The Plains and reports were they ‘‘loved it’’ and enjoyed sharing the experience with fellow residents upon their return home.
