William Kemp's Jig from London to Norwich, 1600 - "A nine days wonder" - 2008 updated version.

Notes on the Morris Dance

Morris Dancing is England’s foremost costume and dance tradition. The history of English Morris can be traced in early writings back as far as the mid 15^th Century. It is, most likely, a lot older than that.

There are many theories as to its origin and much can be found on the web to confirm whatever theory you wish to subscribe to. Here are a few:

• Brought back by Crusaders because of the influence of the Moors – hence Moorish or Morris – and because dancers blacked their faces.

• Basically a European dance – there are other dance traditions in Europe called Moresco or similar, but again ascribed to a Moorish influence, since many of the Moresco dances are fighting dances.

• An ancient pagan fertility rite celebrated to bring in the spring. The higher the dancers leap – the higher the crops will grow and that sort of thing.

• It was a dance of the Royal Courts which spread out from the Thames Valleyto be taken up by the peasantry.

And so on. Basically, no-one really knows. Your best source for an informed discussion on the Origins of the Morris is in “History and the Morris Dance” by John Cutting. Dance Books 2005. Available from The Morris Shop, 12 Flockton Road, Bradford, BD4 7RH

Cutting says: “1458 – This is the date that every Morris dancer should carry in his back pocket so that he can lightly toss it to an audience when somebody asks, “But how old is Morris?” It is the date of the oldest mention we have to ‘Morris dance’ in England

The date refers to the will of Alice Wetenhale, a widow of Bury St Edmunds, who also had a house in Sythe Lane, London: so a Lady, we may assume, of substantial means. A section of her will, put into English [the original is in Latin*], reads: …Further, I leave to Katherine my daughter my best guilded cup with a lid of matching pattern, 1 short-stemmed gulded cup with lid, 3 cups of silver engraved with morris dancers with a single lid for them……”

* My note

So one can only assume that the Morris in some form was well known enough in the 1450s to be the subject of decoration for objects and that the name would mean something to others when quoted in a will.

Cutting concludes that what we today would all recognise as Morris Dancing goes back to the early eighteenth century. Then for 300 years before that the word Morris appears fairly frequently applied to performances which we know very little about . Cutting adds that the words ‘pagan’, ‘ritual’, ‘pre-Christian’, and ‘fertility rite’ are not mentioned AT ALL. These are ideas which have been added to make the revival of Morris more colourful. Cutting quotes the well-known Morris collector and teacher, Roy Dommett, who once said in the context of anyone who comes forward at a display of Morris Dance to address the audience: “Don’t allow your story to be inhibited by the truth.”

Cutting provides a useful final note: “What we all need to remember is that fact and fantasy are both good – we just need to remember which is which.”

However, I can tell you this: When well danced, the Morris is a fantastic display of skill, both colourful and always uplifting. The music is rich and varied and the dances are great fun to do, if you wish to spend the time to learn them.

These are English dances and are part of the English culture. We hope you like what we do and hope you take away some great memories.

Mac McCoig

We always welcome new members, you can join any time you like – just give the Bagman a call, or look on our web site: www.uttoxetermorrismen.org.uk Practice sessions are fortnightly Thursday evenings, starting in September – see the web site for details.                                             Mac McCoig