About Pig Dyke Molly

We are Molly dancers based on the edge of the Fens in Peterborough. We come from Molly traditions but are not limited by them. We are fully inclusive, welcoming anyone who loves dance, music and entertaining.

What is Molly dancing?

There are few detailed historical records of Molly dancing, and its origins are unknown. What we do know is that Molly dancing was performed by agricultural workers of East Anglia during the nineteenth century. It was danced in midwinter on special days, such as Plough Monday and Boxing Day. Molly dancers performed for money, drink and to entertain their community. They danced the local dances of the time, accompanied by whatever musical instruments were available. Drinking, raucous behaviour and extracting money with menaces were not unknown. They hid their identities by blackening their faces and often reduced the risk of being prosecuted by dressing as women (Mollies). It was not genteel, and the genteel found it shocking. Molly dancing had disappeared by 1940 due to changes in agricultural practices, popular culture and social reforms.

Molly dancing was revived in the late 1970s by East Anglian dancers such as the Cambridge Morris Men, Mepal Molly, and Seven Champions, as a reaction against Cotswold Morris and a desire to revive local traditions. They based their choreography, music and costume on the meagre historical record. The dancing style was simpler and rougher than Cotswold Morris, characterised by heavier stepping, rigid arms, and clenched fists. Dancers were commonly of mixed gender, wielded brooms, wore heavy boots and were disguised by face paint and cross-dressing. There was no hankie waving, bashing of sticks or jangling of bells.

Since the revival, the number of Molly dancing teams has increased and expanded from East Anglia, even reaching the USA. Molly dancing has retained its original spirit and style but has become richer, with teams creating new tunes, dances and costumes.

You can learn more about the tradition of Molly dancing in this article by Tony Forster:The Molly Tradition and from the book: Elaine Bradtke (2000). Truculent Rustics, Molly dancing in East Anglia before 1940. The Folklore Society.

The Pig Dyke Molly Style

Our choreography, music and costumes are unique in the world of Molly dancing. The arm movements are less rigid and fluidly follow the direction of movement. The stepping is lighter with more spring than stomping. The dancers cover more ground, which gives a greater sense of speed and energy. Country dances are composed of repetitive patterns of figures, which can be uninteresting to an audience. We use country dance figures to create patterns that are not repeated in the dance and are coherent with the theme of the dance. We introduce each dance with tall tales or downright lies. More information about dances can be foundhere.

At first, the music may sound like folk, but it lacks the common tunes found in other traditional dance teams. The music was composed for Pig Dyke’s dance style, with influences from rock, jazz and Samba. Tunes are either original compositions or adapted by us from little-known folk and other tunes. More information about the band can be foundhere.

Costume and face paint are designed to hide our identities and to surprise, intrigue and amuse the audience. Black and white is the only rule, with each member creating their own unique costume and face paint pattern.