SEVENTEEN teams of youngsters will dance their socks off this Saturday for the third annual Dinosaurs Not Allowed event, which is building up for a performance in the borough as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

The Morris dancers, aged between five and 25, will show off their traditional English dance routines from 11am until 4pm as part of the south west’s Count Me In weekend, a celebration of music, dance and outside arts.

The teams will put on displays every 30 minutes at nine spots across Weymouth town centre and harbourside before holding a grand finale at 3.30pm at the Jubilee Clock on the seafront.

Dance taster sessions will also be offered to members of the public at various times throughout the day.

Teams from across the south west region will include Ashley’s Rise Morris, Bordering on Morris, Beech Nuts Morris, Morris Mynahs, Wyke Smugglers, Green Shoots, Tan ha Dowr, Staple Hill Morris, Fonthills Finest Longsword Dancers, Spaxton Stompers, Glenfrome Morris, Steps in Time, Ivy Laners, Swallows Morris, Scantabout Dancers and Monteclefe Morris.

The Dinosaurs Not Allowed event is funded by the Arts Council and run with assistance from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and stewards from the Pirates of MV Freedom and Poole Pirates and the Weymouth Folk Community.

Event director John Clifford, from the Open Morris Association, said: “It’s the third year of the project and it’s a dress rehearsal in many respects ahead of 2012.

“It’s giving our new teams the chance to dance out in public.

“This year we have 17 teams taking part, last year there were 10 and the previous year we had six.

“We’re hoping for 21 teams at the final showcase on September 8, 2012.”

He added: “We’re saying it’s cool and safe for young people to do. We’ve got all different style of Morris dancing on display.

“We’re all gathering at the King’s Statue on the Esplanade then the teams will be dispersing around the pedestrian areas of Weymouth town centre and Hope Square.

“They’ll be performing in St Mary Street, St Thomas Street, Bond Street and outside the Rendezvous club on the quayside.

“We’ll finish with a group finale at the Jubilee Clock at 3.30pm.”

Elsewhere in Dorset, The Big Sing 2011 will be held this Sunday at The Lighthouse theatre, Poole with singers of all abilities invited to join Karl Jenkins for The Armed Man mass choir performance.

The Count Me In initiative has been awarded the prestigious not-for-profit Inspire Mark, which recognises events inspired by the London 2012 Games.

To find out more visit

teamsouthwest.co.uk/culture/count_me_in/count_me_in_2011.aspx