MORRIS dancers came together at sunrise today to celebrate the dancing tradition on May 1.

Isca Morris performed their dances at dawn at the Caerleon Amphitheatre to honour a 35-year-old tradition which marks the start of the Morris dancing season.

Dancers who performed from 5.30am to 7am were joined by The Men of Sweyns Eye Morris from Swansea and members of Cardiff Morris.

John Briggs, from Newport, moved to Wales from Minnesota in America in 1976 becoming a member of the Isca Morris group since 1977. He took part in the early morning dance and hopes it will inspire more people to join the group.

“I think the Morris tradition is a wonderful one and needs to be maintained, nurtured and developed for future generations,” he said.

“We are a small side and are constantly on the lookout for new members of any age, male or female.

“Today's performance was truly inspiring for us as dancers and musicians, even if there were no spectators to see us at 5.30 am.

“This has almost always been the case, bar one or two hardy souls in the past getting up early to come and watch us.

“But we've come to the end of our long practice season, have been practising indoors at the Usk Vale pub's function room and occasionally Cwmbran AFC's clubhouse through the dreary months of winter and are just dying to get out and dance.

“Sweyns Eye Morris from Swansea set off at 4am this morning to come and join us.

“Members from Cardiff Morris did the same.

“A great start to the day!”

After the dance, a breakfast was laid on for dancers at the Usk Vale pub, the usual practice venue.

Isca Morris were formed in 1976 by three experienced dancers taking their name from the Roman Fortress of the Second Augustan Legion which once stood on the site of the town of Caerleon in the old county of Gwent in South East Wales, UK. Dancers wear the national colours of Wales (red, white and green) and the kit includes a red sash on which is mounted a Roman helmet badge.

For more information or to join visit www.isca-morris.com or call 01633 868707.