Biography
What is the origin of morris dancing? Find out here about its medieval beginnings, and its revival in late Victorian times, and join with us as we try our hands at the various styles of morris, from Border to Fluffy
Morris Dancing: the Basics
As well as national costume, national dishes and a national sport, a nation should have a dance. Argentina has its tango, Poland the polka and England has the Morris. Like much else in our culture, it isn’t of unmixed English origin, but derived from Moorish styles of dance back in the 15th century. It filtered throughout western Europe, but it was in England, especially at the Tudor court, that it really took hold.
Morris Dancing
Morris dancing is an age-old tradition that was almost on the verge of extinction by the end of the 19th century. It owes its contemporary revival to Cecil Sharp, who, having witnessed a Boxing Day Morris in Oxfordshire in 1899, went on to tour the country researching the dance. In 1911, he founded the English Folk Dance Society, helping to ensure that the Morris lives on.
Styles of Morris
"Why did God invent line dancing?" "So the Morris dancers would have something to laugh at." (Australian Morris joke)
