KENT KORKERS & PORK SCRATCHIN'S MORRIS SIDES
KENT KORKERS & PORK SCRATCHIN'S MORRIS SIDES
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THE
ORIGINS OF MORRIS DANCING
Forms
of folk dance can claim pre-Christian origins and may have developed
as a means of ensuring fertility of the soil, crops and animals when
the survival of whole communities depended on the fortune of the
crops. The ritual elements of its origins can still be seen in the
dances today the clockwise circle to represent the sun,
crouching down, leaping in the air and banging sticks on the ground
to encourage the crops to grow. Handkerchiefs are waved, bells ring
and sticks are clashed to ward off evil spirits.
THE
HISTORY OF MORRIS DANCING
There
are references to Morris dancing dating from 1380 and Morris is
known to have been a general term for dance in Shakespeare's time.
It
is likely that morris dancing at this time would have resembled the
Blackface tradition that we have today.
BLACKFACE
MORRIS
Possibly
the oldest form of Morris dancing and the most like the original
pre-Christian dances. The black face may depict Moors or Arabs and
may be the origin of the word Morris or "Moorish" or may
be to give dancers anonymity and therefore add mystery. As the pagan
origins of this style of dancing were more obvious the church and
state did their best to suppress it.
Although
Morris dancing had developed into a harmless rustic entertainment it
was vigorously prohibited by the Puritans, in Oliver Cromwell's
time. The Morris had virtually died out in villages and country
areas but at the time of the Restoration of the monarchy, when
Charles II claimed the throne, his ministers revived dancing to
recreate the "Merrie England" of the past. Nowhere was the
revival more enthusiastic than the Cotswolds, always a region of
staunch support for royalty and these dances developed into the
Cotswold style of Morris, one of the major traditions surviving
today.
COTSWOLD MORRIS
One
of the major dance styles to re-appear after the revival during the
Restoration of Charles II. The dancers no longer clacked their
faces, and the dance moves now incorporated court and social dance
figures, to replace forgotten figures, so the dances became more
graceful and elegant. Longer sticks and handkerchiefs and more
elaborate costumes replaced the Blackface tatters. Cotswold sides
have a fool or clown dancer who dresses differently from the rest of
the dancers. The fool is the link between the dancers and the
audience and he or she can join in the dances at will or chat to the
audience and explain what is going on.
BORDER
The
original Blackface tradition survived in the form of the wild and
primitive "Border" Morris of the Welsh border counties of
Shropshire and Herefordshire region. Contrasting with the more
formal Cotswold dancers the border tradition wore tatters, perhaps
to simulate poverty and some continued to black their faces.
MOLLY
DANCING
From
East Anglia, developed from the old Blackface style and along with
the dancers a man dressed as a girl danced.
In
various areas of the country different but parallel forms of Morris
dance evolved, each tradition distinguished by dress and style of
dance. Also villages developed and altered the dances within each
tradition giving an enormous variety of dances.
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th Century drew people from the villages and into the mills and factories in the towns an once again threatening the continued existence of Morris dancing, particularly in the country areas. One tradition, however, was developed as a result of the move of large populations to the Industrial towns, this being the ceremonial dances of the North West for processions made on holidays in Lancashire and Cheshire mill towns. NORTH WEST CLOG
Country
dwellers left the villages and the countryside to find work in the
growing towns of the Industrial Revolution in the North West of
England, and worked in the mills and factories. They took to the
towns their own villages Morris dance traditions and adapted these
to town life. Large numbers of people wanting to dance led to
adaptation of the old six person dance sets so a processional style
of dancing incorporating many dancers, both men and women was
developed. During their rare holidays, such as May Day, the dancers
processed through the town streets accompanied by brass bands which
could be heard over the noise of their clogged feet on the cobble
stones. Each North West dance incorporates an upstreet for
processing up the street before a figure is performed. A form of
step dancing in clogs for solo and duo performers also evolved.
North West Clog is the only tradition in which men and women have
always danced together. Today North West Clog dancers wear wooden
soled leather clogs hand made for each dancer and shod in either
iron or rubber. Dances are named after the towns and villages in
which they developed. Women wear white blouses, skirts, sometimes
aprons and the men, white shirts, black breeches, cummerbunds and
beads are reminiscent of the clothes of the mill and factory
workers.
The
morris dancing tradition may not have continued at all after the
First World Was if it had not been for the work of Cecil Sharp and
others at the beginning of the 20th Century who collected and
recorded Morris dances and tunes and so ensured that they were not
lost. Around 1906 Cecil Sharp is know to have trained a number of
ladies and mens sides in the Tenterden and Cranbrook area of Kent.
The records of dances collected at the beginning of the century can
be used today by dance groups to expand their repertoire of dances.
Some groups are given their dances by former dancers and these can
date back many decades.
Traditionally
the Morris was danced by men but during the last 19th century, and
particularly during the first world war, women kept the dances
alive. Now many all women and mixed sides have been formed to dance
all the traditions.
THE
MUSIC
Morris
dance groups, called Sides, usually dance to traditional tunes but
some tunes are written by the musicians themselves.
MAY
1st
An
important date in the Morris dancing calendar is May 1st when Morris
sides in Britain celebrate Englands oldest festival which celebrates
the coming of summers. In 1993 Morris dancers marched on Parliament
in Westminster, London to protest to keep the May Day as a public
holiday and won.
FESTIVALS
Many
morris sides meet at festivals throughout the English summer and it
is a chance to meet old friends, make new ones and to learn from
other dancers. Festivals also give a chance to meet with European
Dance Groups.
While keeping an ancient tradition alive sides are formed with the object of having fun and bringing enjoyment and entertainment to their audiences. Many sides do not adhere rigidly to tradition but draw inspiration from it and create something new. Morris is a living tradition and children's sides ensure that Morris dancing will continue. |
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