Mike Ruff gave up any attempt at a day job more than 30 years ago to concentrate on being a musician. Working in schools came a few years later and the purchase of a Maypole meant “have Maypole will travel” became a major part of Mike’s work. He has taught dancers of all ages and abilities, creating shows and teaching teachers. In 2012, he worked with the English National Ballet to provide Maypole dancing and music for morris dancing for their Big Dance event.
Two creative partnership projects in Slough in 2002 resulted in Mike forming Tradamis which is now a charity, with Mike as Director and one of the Trustees. Through a nationwide network of practitioners, Tradamis offers a wide range of teaching modules, training, mentoring, and resources on traditional and historical dance and music aimed at increasing appreciation of our cultural heritage as widely as possible.
Much of Mike’s work had to stop during the Covid 19 pandemic and at the time of writing it is not clear how much will get going again and how much will change; certainly, some of his bands are unlikely to work regularly any more but that could change again in the next year. He is still doing barn dances and teaching country dancing [for the English Folk Dance and Song Society at their Thursday classes]. There are also regular solo gigs, anything from Old Time Music Hall to French Café. A more recent project has been the creation of the mAy team to offer Maypole performances at major events and Maypole teaching at more informal events. They appeared regularly at Countryfile Live at Blenheim and Castle Howard as well as The Swiss Garden, Spring Live and many other events.
