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Ouse Washes Molly Dancers
Welcome to www.ousewashes.com the official web site of the Ouse
Washes Molly Dancers based in the East Anglian region of
England. Formed in Norfolk in 1981, the Ouse Washes Molly
Dancers are one of the longest established Molly dance sides in the
country - and are considered one of the most creative. Molly
Dancing at its best...
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Ouse Washes was the name originally given to the
area deliberately allowed to flood between the two great
canals, dug by thousands of prisoners of war under the
direction of Cornelius Vermuyden, in the 17th century.
This flooding enabled the remainder of the fenland to be
drained and turned into the best farmland in Europe. The
Washes, therefore, is the only area that resembles the
great watery wilderness that the fenland once was. There
the customs, superstitions and ways of life lingered
longest. In winter the flooded land is home to one of
the largest gatherings of wildfowl in Europe, with
ducks, geese and swans travelling from as far as Siberia
and Iceland. In the summer the waters recede, the grass
grows incredibly long and the Washes are home to many
breeding species as well as birds and animals.
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We took the name of the area for our dance group as
no one could object as no one lives there. We hope that
we keep true to the traditions of the place, which is
wild, dark, frightening and teeming with life – just
like our dances. |
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