Connecticut and Rhode Island*
Morris Family Tree

Some Notes on Connection

While morris dancing had been taught at summer camps and retreats, Pinewoods Morris Men became the first established morris team in the US. From its members came many teams (click on the link in the tree to read more about their history and some of the teams founded by members), two of which were Westerly Morris Men (WMM), founded by Peter Leibert, and New Haven Morris and Sword, founded by David Lindsay.

Mystic Garland Dancers (MGD) began when women were allowed to practice but not dance out with Westerly Morris Men. Blackstone Valley Morris was created by the sister of a Westerly dancer. When they folded, a former Blackstone Valley and another former both Blackstone Valley and Twilight Bells dancer later joined MGD.

Half of the founding members of the Not for Joes were WMM members, but all were also husbands of MGD dancers and the Jr Joes were their children.  Two MGD dancers have also performed with the Joes! For a while there was a heavy crossover of WMM and Not for Joe dancers who, if both teams were dancing out together, would wear a mix of kits: a base of white shirt and black pants, but swapping tatters/vests and hats, and painting their faces half green and half yellow - face paint for the Joes, colors of WMM.

Ladies of the Rolling Pin (LORP) was founded by a former MGD dancer and a few MGD dancers have also danced with them, especially in the early days when border was in its prime.

The fiddler for Greenwich Guard and dancer with Burgundy Belles later was a fiddler for LORP. Her spouse was a long time musician for MGD and LORP.

Over the years members of all these teams have also danced with other teams and in other places, but Connecticut and Rhode Island morris teams have remained interconnected and strong!