We'll see if the cops try and stop us this time...

Come see the Morris Dawn Dance at the Takoma Park Gazebo, corner of Carroll and Westmoreland Avenues, 6:10 - 7:00am, Saturday, May 1!

Since 1986 Morris dancers have "danced up the Sun" on May Day at the Takoma Park Gazebo.

May Day celebrations and Morris Dancing each go back a bit farther in England -- at least 500 years. The Dawn Dance tradition began there about a hundred years ago, part of the great Morris Dance revival. Morris Dancing and the Dawn Dance have since spread across the globe. In nearly every time zone Morris dancers greet the May Day Sun and celebrate the beginning of summer.

Stories that the Sun will not rise, summer will not come, and calamity will befall Takoma Park, the nation, the world, and even the universe if the Dawn Dancers fail to perform may not be true. Then again, they might be! Best not to take the chance! Stories that folks who turn out to watch will be blessed with good luck and fertility (whichever you prefer) may or may not be true, as well.

The Rock Creek Morris Women and the Foggy Bottom Morris Men will perform "hankie" and stick dances in the traditions of England's Cotswolds region.

We'll dance at the Gazebo from 6:10 to around 7:00am

We will dance in Takoma Park again at 9:15 - 9:30am to 10:00am. (probably) at the Takoma Tower Retirement Center at 7051 Carroll Avenue.

We'll continue dancing throughout the day in downtown Washington, DC:

• 10:30 am in the vicinity of 9th and F Streets, NW (hint: Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.)
• 12:30 pm on the corner of Pennsylvania. Ave. and 13th St., NW (hint: John Harvard's Brew House)
• 2:00 pm on the 500 block of 7th Street., NW (hint: District Chophouse & Brewery/ Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc.)

(hint: sense a trend?)

Yes, faireraven and myself will be touring this, though I really doubt she'll be up @ 4 am to make the dawn thing.