As parents and guests stood forming a large circle outside at Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, students performed traditional Maypole and Morris & Sword dances on Friday, May 1.

The May Fair event is an annual one at the school, and it involves students, faculty, and staff all taking part by either dancing around the Maypole, playing songs on recorders, and/or performaning Morris & Sword dances.

Patricia Campbell directed the students and acted as the event’s announcer. She also stepped in to dance when needed.

Early childhood students began the event by the event by each taking a ribbon and walking around the Maypole while singing.

“Dance away, dance away hold me high the branch of May,” the students sang with their teachers. “…Here we go round the Maypole high.”

Different Morris and Sword dances were performed by different grade levels at the school Friday afternoon.

“The Morris & Sword dancing is often done on May Day at dawn,” Ms Campbell explained before the first Morris & Sword dance was performed for the event. She also shared the dances were held to celebrate new life and the end of winter.

Friday’s event marked the 24th Annual May Fair held by Housatonic Valley Waldorf School.