CR5 Issue 168 May 2019

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Mad about Morris A brief history of Britain’s quirkiest dance tradition The tinkle of bells, the rhythmic thump of feet hitting the ground and the click of sticks struck together, all in time to the rousing music of an accordion. It’s the sound of the UK’s most ancient dance tradition, and a sign that summer is on its way. However, while many enthusiasts see Morris dancing as a touchstone of Britain’s ancient rural culture, a little research into the history of the dance reveals some surprising theories about its origins. Most historians believe the name ‘Morris’ is derived from the word Moorish, the name given to a group of North African Muslims who ruled Spain from 711 to 1492. During the 15th century their culture inspired a fashion for exotic spectacle amongst the royal courts of Europe, when each country came up with its own unique version of a ‘Moorish’ dance. In England the earliest written record of the Morris dance was noted down in 1448 by London’s Goldsmiths Company as a payment of seven shillings (a generous sum in those days) to the troupe of dancers who had entertained them, and documents from the court of Henry VII show that a ‘mourice dance’ was performed at Christmas in the year 1484. In Munich, Germany, a set of sculptures made by Erasmus Grasser around 1480 shows an ethnically diverse group of ‘Moriskentänzers’ (Moreska dancers) stepping and leaping with bells attached to their legs. The earliest written record of the Morris dance is from 1448 By the 16th century the Moreska was no longer simply an entertainment for noblemen. Now known simply as a ‘Morris’ in Britain, the dance was considered ideal for springtime and early summer celebrations and it continued as a Whitsunday entertainment 60 Log into www.cr5.co.uk your local community website! until the 17th century, when the Puritans banned all forms of public performance. King Charles II, eager to restore Britain’s much-loved rural customs, reinstated the dance and it remained popular until the Industrial Revolution, when the movement of people from rural areas to towns and cities broke up many longestablished village ‘sides’. But thanks to high profile figures such as Mary Neal (a benefactor who helped destitute women) and music folklorist Cecil Sharp, the tradition was revived in the late 19th/early 20th century, at a time when it was feared that many traditional folk customs were disappearing. Taking ‘sides’ In the year 1934 six individual Morris sides came together to establish the Morris Ring, an organisation formed to promote and protect the dance’s ancient traditions. But in spite of evidence dating from the 16th century that women danced the Morris, the group caused controversy by not allowing women-only teams or mixed sides to join. As a result two more bodies – the Morris Federation and Open Morris – were later formed to support both male and female members. When the Equality Act was introduced in 2010, the Morris Ring was forced to admit women to its ranks, but still refused to accept them as dancers. In April 2011 Peter Halfpenney, Squire of the Morris Ring, told the Telegraph newspaper: “I would liken it to Manchester United not having any females in their first team. Their prime performers are men because they are
physically stronger,” adding: “The physical difference is not going to change, but of course, we recognise that ladies have as much ability to organise or play music.” In spite of this rather bullish statement, the Ring’s determination to maintain its stance on all-male dancers lasted just seven more years. The organisation’s website now states: “At our 2018 Annual Representatives Meeting there was overwhelming support for a proposal to enable any Morris team, whatever its gender make up, to become a member of The Morris Ring if they support the founding principles of the organisation.” Unfortunately, gender discrimination is not the only controversy to have dogged the world of Morris dancing. The custom for some Morris sides to paint their faces black is thought to have originated when dancers tried to disguise themselves whilst ‘begging’ for tips (public begging was illegal at the time) while others believe it reflected Welsh border mining traditions or evolved from the dance’s ‘Moorish’ origins. Whatever the roots of this practice, it’s not hard to see why it might cause offence in the multicultural Britain of today. In 2014 David Cameron caused a furore when he posed with ‘blackface’ dancers in Banbury, and in 2017 a side from a village near Birmingham was forced to abandon a city centre performance when the crowd angrily accused the dancers of racism. Although the debates surrounding Morris traditions continue to rumble on, they appear to have had little impact on the <strong>May</strong> Day revival that is currently being enjoyed in the UK. In recent years there has been a boom in the sale of maypoles and huge increases in the number of people attending <strong>May</strong> Day events. Given the British public’s desire to reconnect with its ancient cultural traditions, it seems that the number of Morris sides in the UK – presently around 13,000 – will continue to grow. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to tie on those silver bells, put flowers round your hat and get ready to welcome in the summer. By Kate McClelland To advertise call Lucy on 01737 557888 or 07703 209292 61
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CR5 Issue 168 May 2019

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