There are some alarming reports in this week's news about the possible death of one of England's great traditions - the morris dance.
Here at School of Everything, we're passionate about passing on traditional skills of all kinds. These are skills that have always been taught and learned through informal, sociable networks, rather than in classrooms and institutions. (Well, OK, we did do country dancing when I was in primary school!)
And how could anyone resist such a pungently phrased appeal as this, from the Morris Ring's Paul Reece: "There is still time for new blood to get ready for the Spring fertility offensive." Words that could have been spoken by our own Greenman (aka Pete, our CTO)...
So we want to lend our support to the campaign to save morris dancing! Let's see if School of Everything can help England's morris sides find fresh recruits.
If you organise a local side that's in need of new blood, create a teaching profile on the site so people can contact you. And if you've ever toyed with the idea of taking up morris dancing, why not make a belated New Year's Resolution and add it to your list of things you'll learn to do in 2009?
We'll do our best to spread the word and help put people in touch with each other - and when we launch our School of Everything Networks for membership organisations, we'll offer free Networks to any organisation that supports and encourages the performance of morris dancing.
Meanwhile, here are some links where you can find more information and inspiration:
Morris SideFinder - this is the best starting point for finding a morris side in your local area! (Thanks to Roger from Rockhopper Morris for pointing us to it.)
Update: Well, from the responses we're getting, it seems like the death of morris dancing may have been exaggerated! It's great to hear how alive and well it is in so many places - and a big welcome to all the morris dancers who have joined the site since yesterday!
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If you are interested in joining a morris group but don't have contact details go to
Side Finder http://www.morrisdancing.org/finder/sfcgi.html
Type in your postcode and it will generate a list of Morris sides in your area with web site details where known. Some may be men only dance groups, others women only and others again will be mixed. In most cases no dance expereince is necessary.
Morris dancing is fantastic fun and not dying out at all. Except among a couple of members of the Morris Ring, obviously. If you would like to have a go please do as the nice man from Redbournestoke says and use the side finder.
Lots of love from Fiona (member of historic women's team New Esperance Morris and of the Morris Federation, previously the Womens Morris Federation)
("Spring fertility offensive"?! Did he really say that. I mean, really really? come on tell me you are pulling my leg. Yes it has got bells on thankyouverymuch)
I think he was trying to be clever (and failing) airing that old fertility thing. He must have meant it though maybe even believes it.
Hi everyone - it sounds like the media reports of the death of morris dancing are a bit of an exaggeration, then? That's really good to hear!
Fiona - yes, he really did say that! (I guess it was meant to be tongue in cheek? But that never really comes across in print...)
Well, you've all said it. A few of the more 'traditional' (hidebound?) sides have a problem and suddenly we're all old men with a beer gut.
Our youngsters (we have a significant number) have been a bit bemused by it all. And I've been more than a bit irritated by all the old morris stereotypes being taken out for a walk again by the media.
At least Simon Care put them right on Radio 2 yesterday! Good for him. We're always happy to see new members, but we really don't need saving!
Hi everyone! We've had loads of really enthusiastic emails since yesterday - and I've been learning a lot about the world of morris!
Here's a great message I got from Grace from Boggart's Breakfast:
Most of those of us practicing the art have actually been feeling like it's a bit of a good period: folk festivals absolutely overflow with vibrant and innovative teams of all english morris and related traditions, and there are more young people involved than at anytime since the 70's. We are a small subculture, but we are very much alive and kicking.
However, we never miss an opportunity to kick the legs out from under people's misconceptions about the nature of morris dancing (it's not all fat beardy men with tankards, though we do have one of those, our team is composed almost entirely of under (or around) 30's and we are rather more energetic than what most people will have seen on the village green.)
So we will probably take you up on your offer, just because the more publicity the better. Although, ironically, we really can't take on anyone new until next autumn; we are packed to the gills with members and have trouble keeping them all in line!
Dacre Morris are an active women's Cotswold Morris side based in South-East London. We practice every Monday evening in Lewisham (to live music)and we welcome new recruits - because it is fun!
Lets put the record straight for the newspaper people writing about Morris traditions.....we, us girls are not Morris 'men' but,ladies with as much heart as the men for the upholding of the Morris and English related traditions. It grieves me that English traditions and culture are not taught in schools along side other world cultures. We should be teaching the importance and impact our traditions have had and could in the future. It is deemed that it is outmoded, pagan and could have 'terrible' consequences like young people enjoying themselves and having a greater understanding of who as a country, we really are. The Irish and Scots value their cultural background, so should we and that includes dancing, appreciating the camaraderie that belonging can have and Morris dancing with its rich diversity of styles. Its not all hankies and men in white, but colour,tradition, good company and much merry making and happiness.
Get thee over/ down/ up to Whittlesea this weekend and you will see how dead morris is! The Straw Bear festival is alive and kicking despite all the red tape thrown at it!
A fine mixed side doing what people should be doing, keeping a tradition alive.
You in the Peterborough area ? Want to try clog dance ? Contact me.
See webpage
www.crosskeyclog.org
Pete
I don't feel that Morris is dying but it is changing to become more accessible to everybody who wants to have a go, and thats great news because it allows new sides like ours to grow and enjoy a wonderful English folk scene. We at Bacchus Border Morris of Croydon, are a team of fun, folk loving people always ready to welcome others, both dancers and musicians, into our side.
Please feel free to come and watch Alford Morris practice at the Half Moon Inn, Sundays at about 8:30 p.m., you might feel you want to join. There is nothing sinister about us or what we do. Ring me first on 01507 605385, because we miss some Sundays. Alford is in Lincolnshire, a short shout from Boston, Skegness, Louth, Grimsby etc.
Thanks for all the comments! Great to see the discussion continuing on here. We've also had some great pictures sent in - I'll do another post with some of those later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, we've had dozens of sides adding profiles to the site in the last two days - check them out here!
Here's a round up of all the fantastic responses we've had over the last couple of days:
http://schoolofeverything.com/blog/morris-dancing-alive-kicking
It's been really exciting! And if anyone's in travelling distance of Bethnal Green and could come and teach the School of Everything team to morris dance, please get in touch with me...
A great idea - to get some support for passing on the many and varied traditions of the morris dance. The Maids of Clifton are a women's team based in the Nottingham area and we are still going strong after 30 years, so, as others have commented, the demise of our traditional forms of dance is much-exaggerated! However, it is true that it is more difficult to get younger people interested in joining the teams these days.Our own team has seen a resurgence of interest from people nearing retirement so maybe we are targeting the wrong audience! Good luck with the campaign.
It's good to see the Morris Ring raising the profile of our National Dance but like so many other postings (presumably from members of the gender non specific Morris Associations) we at SOMPTING VILLAGE MORRIS are proud to boast a bunch of younger performers. However we still need more, so any young bloods (or bloodesses) around Worthing in Sussex who fancy trying something a bit 'wacky', we dare you to come and give it a try.
Find us at:
www.s-v-m.moonfruit.com
Martin'Morris'
It's great to read about all the other teams on your site. We are Green Ginger Garland. We are a women's team based in Hull and are always pleased to welcome new members. We have mixed ages from 22yrs to 65yrs. We sometimes recruit teenagers but then they go off to college and we lose them. Do other teams have this problem?
Interested in joining us or another local side? Ring 01482 802915
Morris dancing certainly is not dying on its feet at BELFAGAN WOMENS MORRIS in COCKERMOUTH CUMBRIA. We have a bright lively side - from all walks of life and ages from 20 to 60 and we have some really good times together. However new people would be very welcome and also new band members, either sex. We meet at Eaglesfield village hall on a monday evening from 8-10 pm. Further details on our website www.belfagan.org.uk
On behalf of Danegeld Morris Side I'd like to reassure you that North West Morris is fit and well and being enjoyed in Suffolk. We have children dancing with us on a regular basis, as always we welcome new members and are currently working on a teaching DVD, see us on Youtube. we haven't currently got a website, but you are welcome to join us at Bredfield village hall Tuesday evenings 8.00 PM until 10.00 PM. Thanks for the email and good luck with the school of everything.
Hi Fiona,
Quite a surprise to find that Morris is dying out. As a muso (salterelle La Boueb) for Loose Women Morris I am also the Muso for Staplehurst Morris Minors. This is a school based side that has approx 20 members from school years 2 to 5. We recently gained a good piece of press in the Kent Messenger that addresses the "death of morris dancing quite well. I did a quick count on the Federation side finder and it counts 400 current sides!
Can be contacted via the Loose Women Website www.loosewomen.org.uk.
Bill Fisher
Tæppa's Tump Ladies North West Morris was formed in 1981, and based in Maidenhead in Berkshire. We would love to see some new members on our Tuesday practice evenings. Male and female musicians also very welcome. We are a friendly bunch of mixed ages. Come along, have some fun dancing, make new friends, and keep fit at the same time as performing our wonderful English tradition. No experience needed. Visit our website for contact details.