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Elixabethan Morris dancing was thriving in William
Shakespeare's Day. Will Kemple, a Shakespearean comic actor took nine days to dance from London to Norwich !
Origins of the Morris dancing are lost in the midst of time, some say they have Moorish origins. We do know that the dancing was widespread in the 1400s.
Wikipedia describes Morris dancing as a traditional form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, and handkerchiefs may also be wielded by the dancers. Without doubt, it is another wonderful, eccentric English tradition.
There are many Morris dancing sides throughout the UK as shown below. For the overseas visitor these spectacles are not to be missed.
In London, the Westminster Morris men carrying on the English tradition of morris dancing with performances both in London & the Cotswolds.
The Greensleeves Morris Men are based in Wimbledon in south-west London.
Close also to London there is the Woodside Morris Men who dance predominantly at pubs in the Watford area. Then on the south coast, a short railway journey from London the Brighton Morris Men perform an English ritual form of folk dancing.
Down south in Devon the Dartington Morris men are in much demand for their dancing. In North Devon the Tarka Morris Men are based in Bideford, a small working port on the river Torridge and the birthplace of Charles Kingsley, author of 'The Water Babies' and 'Westward Ho!' Their motto is Nemo Enim Fere Saltat Sobrius, Nisi Forte Insanit. (Hardly anyone dances sober, unless he's completely mad. Cicero 106 - 43 BC)
Close by the Plymouth Morris Men perform mostly Cotswold traditional dancing in addition to Naval dances from Plymouth using naval-pattern cutlasses.
Thaxted Morris Men in Norfolk performed their traditional dancing at the local celebrations of the coronation of King George V in 1911.
The Morris Dancing Ring was founded in 1934. It is an association of over two hundred morris dance sides. Their mission is to encourage the performance of morris dancing, to maintain its traditions and to preserve its history.
Abingdon Tradional Morris Dancers celebrate a 300 year old dancing tradition of the Horns of Ock Street in Oxfordshire. Dating back to 1700 after an ox was roasted rival Morris Dancers fought for possession of the ox's horns!
Oxford City Morris Men perform traditional “Cotswold” Morris Dances collected from villages in Oxfordshire & Warwickshire. Close by the Ilmington Morris Men from the South Warwickshire village of Ilmington peform the traditional dancing which have evolved in the village over 300 years.
Icknield Way Morris Men in the Vale of the White Horse are a nationally known dancing side that perform mainly in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire.
Through the summer the Cambridge Morris men dance out every week, mostly at pubs in Cambridge and the surrounding villages. Nearby, the Coton Morris Men are a Cotswold morris side based in the Cambridge and South Fens area.
The Devil's Dyke Morris Men hail from the area of Newmarket in West Suffolk. The Dyke is a massive earthwork, some 7 miles long, was built in the dark ages(6th century) to keep out marauding Mercians. Much of the Dyke is still impressively intact, and makes an excellent half day's walk.
St Albans Morris Men have been dancing in and around St Albans (Hertfordshire) for 75 years and claim they are still as fresh as daisies!
Chelmsford Morris Men dance the traditional morris dances of three areas of England: the men perform dances from the Cotswolds and (in the winter) the Welsh borders. The women’s Morris dances come from the north-west of England.
The Standon Morris Men concentrate on Coltswold dances from the Traditions of Ducklington, Headington and Wheatley. At Christmas they usually perform dances for charity from the Welsh border counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. In these they have blackened faces and wear traditional “Tatters” jackets. Every 1st May they traditionally dance at sunrise ( about 5.27 a.m.) at the pudding stone at the end of Standon High Street.
Further West the Bristol Morris Men perform Cotswold Morris Dances to music provided by melodeon, concertina, fiddle or pipe and tabor. Close by Mendip Morris Men in the North Somerset area perform the traditional dances of the Cotswolds in their red, gold and blue baldrics (crossed sashes), adorned with King Alfred's jewel.
Across the Severn, the Isca Morrismen traditional Dancers from South Wales are very famous.
Stroud Morris Dancers entertain audiences in Stroud, Gloucestershire primarily on Monday evenings from May until September outside local pubs. Chipping Campden Morris men are based in a small town in the North Cotswolds, about 12 miles south west of Stratford upon Avon and described by Trevelyan, the British historian, as having "The finest high street in England".
Pilgrim Morris Men perform Cotswold Morris dances around the Guildford Surrey area during the Summer months.
In the ancient county of Rutland the local Morris men maintain the traditional dancing supported by the renowned Rutland Morris Orchestra.
Stafford Morris men and friends at Church Eaton honour John Low arrested as a Morris Musician in 1655.
Further North in the small Pennine Town of Bacup, Lancashire, on Easter Saturday you can view the exotic appearance of the Britannia Coconut Dancers! The dances they perform are actually Folk & Morris Dances and the custom of blackened faces reflect a pagan or medieval background.
The Mersey Morris Men dance predominantly Cotswold Morris from the villages of Bampton, Leafield & Bucknell. These dances were traditionally danced exclusively by men to promote the fertility of nature.
Fylde Coast Cloggers are a ladies clog morris team Lytham, Lancashire , performing both traditional North West Morris dances and garland dances.
Solway Morris Men are based at Wigton in Cumbria,an area of outstanding natural beauty. The side perform tradional dances throughout the Lake District in the summer months, mainly located outside welcoming hostelries!
The Belfagan Womens Morris is an all-female side based Cockermouth, an attractive & lively Cumbrian market.They dance out around local pubs throughout the Lake District.
Based at Kendal, Crook Morris perform traditional English dances in the summer at local pubs throughout the Lakes.
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