Morris dancers from all around Australia will be coming together on the Mid North Coast this weekend to make merry in a celebration they call the National Ale.
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Surprisingly, for a pastime with such rural resonances, it's the first time the annual gathering has been held in a country town.
Almost all the Australian groups (known as 'sides' ) are in capital cities; an exception being Fiddlestix Morris of Grafton, who are hosting the event this year.
They're a small but committed side of only eight active dancers, and two of them are former Bellingen residents, Dru Haywood and her partner Ken, who now live in Coffs Harbour.
"There's probably a few hundred Morris dancers across Australia," Dru said. "It's bigger than it's ever been but it started from a very small base."
She readily admits that the activity, which hails back to traditional folk dancing of 15th century England and features rhythmic stepping and choreographed figures by dancers wielding bells, sticks, swords and handkerchiefs, is slightly unusual.
"It's a bit fringe," Dru said. "Look, if it became too mainstream we probably wouldn't do it."
Dru said they are expecting about 50 dancers to converge on Bellingen for the Ale and as well as dancing for each other, they'll be staging a few public performances.
They'll be on display in all their glory on Saturday at 2pm in Maam Gaduying Park, and Dru said people should also keep an eye out for the jig competition that will be held about midday on Saturday at the river end of Church St.
Morris dancing is generally a team sport, but a jig is a solo or two-person dance that allows the more energetic dancers to show off their skills.
The dancers are also booked to perform on Sunday at the Harbourside Markets in Coffs at 10.30am.
