Morris Dancing - the origins

We are frequently asked what is Morris Dancing and where does it originate from? Below is an attempt to answer this question.

Morris Dancing is basically a brisk, lively and often boisterous form of English folk dancing. The exact origins of the dance are lost in the depths of time but it is clear that Morris dances have been performed as annual rituals by costumed dancers in England for many centuries.

There are two main theories popular today. The first is that the dances originate from pre-Christian pagan fertility rites which were performed to celebrate the passing of the seasons and to ensure good harvests by waking up the god(s) of fertility to stir from winter (clashing of sticks and bashing the ground are symbolic of this function). The dancers frequently adorn their hats with flowers which is also evocative of spring and good harvests. The ankle bells are thought to scare away evil spirits. The two most popular times of the year for ritual displays are May Day (1st May - start of spring in the northern hemisphere) and Christmas (the start of a new year).

The second theory is that the dances were introduced from the Moors to the court of Henry VII in the 15th century. These dances proved to be a popular spectacle that eventually spread into parish entertainments and processions. There are frequent references to Morris Dances in the 16th century and it is thought that the term may have become applied to both the new 'Moorish' dances and the older pagan rituals at this time. The habit of painting dancers' faces black, frequently observed in the older forms of Morris dances (Border, Molly and Mumming Plays) is thought by some historians to reflect the Moorish origins. Others merely see this as a way of achieving anonymity for the dancers whilst collecting money or as a means of allowing dancers to detach themselves from their inhibitions whilst dancing.

Some of the earliest recorded references to Morris dances include the bequeathing of a silver cup engraved with images of Morris dancers in a will recorded in 1458. A reference specifically indicating women dancing Morris can be found in the Oxford English Dictionary dated 1621, although many all-male Morris sides today still argue that it's not traditional for women to dance the Morris.

There are a number of distinct forms of dance within the generic term 'Morris' and these include Border, Molly, Mumming Plays, Rapper, Cotswold and North West Clog (approximately in order of age - oldest first).

There are over 1000 Morris sides currently performing in the world today. Much of the notation used for the dances performed today originates from the collection of Cecil Sharp, who documented and catalogued hundreds of Morris dances as he observed them being performed either side of the first World War. Athough this has proved an invaluable resource, some people have taken Sharp's snapshot of a centuries-old living tradition as 'holy writ' and have freeze-dried a dance form that has been evolving for centuries.

If you are interested in dancing or playing music for Morris dancing please contact:

			Molonglo Mayhem Border Morris
			c/o Paul and Leslie Carr,
			31 Spica Street,
			Giralang, ACT 2617
			telephone (02) 6241 1934

We are also available for bookings.