Folk, Tankards and Morris Dancing

Folk, tankards and morris dancing go hand-in-hand, quite literately, usually around a maypole… or a bar! With the Lewes Folk Festival taking place last weekend, although summer is over, morris men from up and down the country continue to entertain us in pubs, towns, villages and festivals. But when did it start and what is morris dancing?

It is believed that the earliest morris performance in England took place in London on the 19th May 1448. Morris Men were actually paid up to seven shillings for their entertainment, which would have been the equivalent to around thirty-five pence in today’s money (GBP). By Elizabethan times, morris dancing was viewed as an ancient dance, which was associated with theatrical re-enactments… and, at the time, provided an additional income for the poor.

The idea of dancing in disguise came about as morris dancing was originally seen as way to make an extra income for the poor people of the town, so they would dance around the villages, not wanting their bosses to recognise them, and so, they made up their faces to disguise themselves and keep their identity hidden.

Although this is now no longer the case, the disguise stuck and has become woven into the age-old fabric of the border morris tapestry. The term border morris comes from the Welsh / English borders, and can be identified with their costumes, namely wearing rag coats with made up faces.

Aside from Border Morris Dancing having different steps and dance routines to traditional Cotswold morris dancing, the English / Welsh border morris groups tend to be dawned in black (although a growing number of sides do wear other colours), with torn, dishevelled clothes, appearance… and the odd Green Man!

The Green Man, is the mischievous character that not only riles up the crowd (the joker in the pack, if you will), but also their fellow dancers too. However, although there are several styles of Morris Dancing, there are similarities between them all. Their love of dance, beer and pubs.

With traditional morris dancing originating in the Cotswold, a number of different styles of morris dancing have come about over the years. However, these styles of morris are divided into a couple of main categories; namely traditional morris dancing, Border (Border Step) morris dancing, Northwest and Southwest Morris dancing which are visually very different from each other in appearance, steps and dance routines.

Northwest Morris, like Mayflower Morris from Ash in Hampshire, which is slightly different to the other sides, which come from the cotton mills of the early eighteenth century, where the mill workers would dance into town and back.

Alton Morris are a mixed Border Morris dance side, also from Hampshire in Alton. Alton Morris comes from the borders of England and Wales, with their energetic dances performed in red and green costumes. The red and green represents the colours of their local town brewery in homage of their locally crafted ale.

The idea of morris dancers wearing white, with bells and ribbons tied to their socks with a tankard attached to their hip, although still present in the traditional dance, has a different energy to the darker Border Step alternative. Although the tankards remain a feature across all morris dance styles, the beer brings morris sides, and enthusiasts, together for the love of dancing… (and the beer)!

Some typical morris attire may include tattered coats worn by the Border dancers to the traditional white garments (which arised from the Cotswolds). Aside from the outfits and costumes, morris dancers tend to carry props for their respective dances on their person.

Some typical items may include garlands; bell pads; armbands; rosettes; sashes; neckerchiefs; waistcoats; wooden clogs and a variety of hats. Handkerchiefs, sticks, bells and swords are also used in a number of dances.

Morris dancing is something we can enjoy at many pubs up and down the country, as well as in our town centres and at beer festivals. With the high energy the dancers bring (always at a pub with great local ales on tap), this Great British tradition and age-old dance we know as morris dancing, is something that has always fascinated me.

Thinking of taking up morris dancing? All you need is a pair of trousers, a shirt and shoes. Of course, you can dress as elaborately as you wish, so dress as you please and remember to have fun! Tunics, baldrics and / or tabards are, of course, optional, as are the long white socks and ribbons!

Already dancing? There’s a dance and discussion day on Saturday 10th November 2018 from 10am to 5pm talking about the future of morris dancing. You can read more about this event here.