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Traditional English Dance - Morris Dancing

Every solstice, outside the pubs of Palmerston North, strangely clad people can be seen leaping into the air, waving handkerchiefs and sticks, with bells jingling from their shins. This traditional ritual to welcome the return of the sun and spring is called Morris dancing, and it goes back at least to the 15th century in England. 

The origins of Morris dancing have been lost in history, but prevalent opinion is that Morris is based pre-Christian fertility or luck-bringing ceremonies. Over time, these 'pagan' dances were assimilated by the church (first the Catholic, then the Protestant) and by the 1500s, Morris was being performed for Easter, May Day and other local festivals.

Morris is still danced all year round to ensure a good crop, to provide entertainment, or to commemorate important events. Today, Morris is still performed in England and New Zealand on days such as Plough Monday, Easter, and the start of spring. Some of the dances have not changed in over a hundred years and because of this long history, Morris dancing is considered a living tradition.

We would love you to try Morris dancing. We practise at Palmerston North Fire Station on Thursday evenings.

Alternatively, if you would like us to dance at an event that you are organising please contact our Squire, Rob Freeman, or Lis Todd.


Rosewood Morris Dancers

Palmerston North Central

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Samba ao Vento is a Palmerston North-based Brazilian percussion group playing samba batucada and other musical styles. Contact us to find out how you can be a part of our group.

Samba Ao Vento

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OnStage Manawatū’s objective is the promotion of the performing arts in Palmerston North and surrounds and to assist community and charitable causes. Club groups perform at retirement villages around the city. The club also awards a $500 scholarship annually to a young artist. Until March 2020 the club was known as the Manawatū Savage Club, established in 1908. The name change was the first step in modernising and simplifying the club’s customs and formats.

OnStage Manawatū

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Established in the Manawatū in 2000. While U3A stands for "University of the Third Age", we are not a university in the modern sense: no qualifications, no exams. We are a community of older people who seek a greater understanding of life. Taps the reservoir of knowledge, skills and experience of older people through self-help learning. Provides opportunities for reading, research, discussions and field trips. The atmosphere for learning is informal and friendly. There are no compulsory activities or examinations. Costs are minimal.

We meet in small learning groups (usually less than 15 people). We currently have over 40 interest groups. Each group has a coordinator who organises and oversees the group. Groups meet in members’ homes, in libraries, art galleries, other spaces. Several groups have also been meeting online (eg Zoom, email). You may join as many groups as you like (there are waiting lists for some groups). Sometimes we go on visits, for example to art galleries, museums.

In addition to the groups we usually run two seminar series each year with themes of general interest.

U3A Manawatū Incorporated

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The Palmerston North Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists was established in 1972. We promote the study of family history and genealogy. We meet monthly and all are welcome at our meetings. At our meetings we often have talks by experienced genealogists and our many research resources are available (databases and library). We have a monthly newsletter with news, events and articles. 

Palmerston North Branch NZSG

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