Nancy - Bootstrap Border Morris

Bootstrap Border Morris were born out of Mayhem in 2019.  After a false start in 2020 during which they were down to only 6 dancers and 1 musician they have built a strong local reputation for their magnificent band and enjoyable dances. They dance in the border style characterised by tatter jackets, big boots and even bigger sticks. They have taken traditional dances from the English / Welsh borders and given them a Devon / Somerset border twist which they dance alongside self penned and borrowed contemporary dances. Bootstrap are an inclusive side and will accept dancers of all standards -  commitment and having fun are as important as the accuracy of the stepping. Many of our dancers had not tried morris before joining Bootstrap and Nancy is very proud of the side that has been developed from the dark days of the pandemic.

Nancy is the squire of Bootstrap Border and fell into the role when no one else wanted to do it. She has been dancing for over 30 years having started at university with Rag Morris. Rag was an excellent introduction into the joys of the morris family and culture, the pinnacle being dancing at Glastonbury festival ( in the mud in wellies!!). After a short interlude 'oop' north Nancy came back to the south west and joined Bradninch Millers Morris where, in addition to the Cotswold and Border traditions she already knew, she learnt Molly and Wessex Stave dancing. In 2016 she joined Mayhem Border Morris which subsequently evolved into Bootstrap. Outside of morris Nancy is a Chartered Civil Engineer who specialises in flood risk management and river restoration. This mathematical background influences her teaching style in many ways but mostly in her need to count things !