Morris dancing ‘in danger of extinction’?

Say it ain’t so!

Morris dancing, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a very old form of English folk dancing. It’s been around since the fifteenth century at least.

It’s had its ups and downs (literally and figuratively!) over the centuries, but underwent something of a revival during the 20th century, particularly given the enormously popular ‘Abbey Girls‘ series of books by Elsie J. Oxenham, which used English folk and morris dance as a central theme. Although these were intended for girls, I read the whole series while growing up, and enjoyed them immensely. (And if anyone wants to call me a ‘girly man’ for enjoying morris dancing, I’d like to see most men try a set of morris and see how hard they’re breathing afterwards! Easy, it ain’t!)

Sadly, the Daily Mail reports:

Morris dancing could be extinct within two decades because the young are too embarrassed to take part.

Members of the English folk dance troupes have dwindled dramatically while the age of dancers is increasing, according to the Morris Ring.

The association, which represents more than 200 clubs across the UK, said: ‘Unless younger blood is recruited during the coming winter months, morris dancing will soon become extinct.’

Charlie Corcoran, Bagman – or secretary – of the Morris Ring, fears ‘that in 20 years’ time there will be nobody left’ because ‘young people are just too embarrassed to take part’.

He added: ‘Once we’ve lost this part of our culture it will be almost impossible to revive it.’

The Morris Ring is hoping a winter recruitment drive could attract some younger members in time for the spring when most troupes perform the dances they have been practising.

Paul Reece, chairman of the Advisory Council of the Morris Ring, said the dances were once a common sight but today are ‘carried out by an ever-dwindling stalwart band of enthusiasts who are determined to keep them alive’.

George Collett, 57, of the Bristol Morris Men, said he understood the reluctance of younger people to take part in the tradition, which is more than 500 years old.

Forced to try it when he was eight years old, he ‘hated it’. But 30 years on he realised it was ‘very enjoyable’.

A Morris man with a modern look is trying to revive interest in the custom.

With a blonde mohawk haircut and a host of tattoos and piercings, Lee Powell, 35, is the youngest member of the Gloucestershire Morris Men.

The civil servant hopes that by challenging the stereotypes of morris dancing he can encourage more young people to take it up.

The married father of one from Gloucester said: ‘People need to look past the stigma of what they perceive morris dancing to be. It’s an important English tradition and it’s a highly energetic sport as well.’

I really hope they succeed in attracting more participants. It’d be a great shame to see this ancient and very interesting art form die out.

For those who’ve never witnessed Morris dance, here are a couple of videos from YouTube. The first shows two dances, using both handkerchiefs and sticks, in England.

The second is taken at a Renaissance Faire in Washington state in the USA, just to show that Americans do Morris too!

If you’ve never tried Morris yourself, and there’s a group anywhere near you, give it a go. You’ll be surprised at how intricate and complex the steps can be – and how much fun it is! It’s also a superb form of exercise.

Peter