Explain What Actually Happens at a Morris Dancing Practice Night

A friend has talked you into trying Morris dancing and the only image in your head involves bells and a certain amount of ridicule. This is for anyone nervous about a first practice night who wants the practical detail nobody mentions. You get the structure explained, the kit sorted, and enough context to understand why sides look so different.

You are about to go along to a Morris dancing practice night for the first time and have no idea what to actually expect. Explain what a typical practice night involves: how it usually opens, whether beginners join straight in or watch first, what kit or footwear is expected, and the rough split between dancing and standing around chatting. Explain the different Morris traditions in one or two plain sentences (Cotswold, Border, Northwest) so a newcomer understands why sides look different, without going into full history. Keep it practical and welcoming in tone, aimed at someone who is slightly nervous about turning up alone.