What Is Morris Dancing?

Morris dancing, also known as The Cotswold morris, is a traditional folk dance which was found in the Oxfordshire region of England at the end of the 19th century. It was a central part of annual springtime rituals throughout the region. The dancers wear dozens of bells on each leg, wield sticks and/or handkerchiefs, and dance to lively folk tunes. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers.

There are English records mentioning the morris dance dating back to 1448 though dances with similar names and some similar features are mentioned in Renaissance documents in France, Italy and Spain. The origins of the term are uncertain, but one of the most widely accepted theories is that the term was 'moorish dance' and 'Moresco' in Spain, which eventually became 'morris dance'. Another, perhaps simpler, explanation is that "Morris" comes from the Latin "Mores", meaning "a custom". This is consistent with the word sometimes being used to describe some other folk customs such as folk plays.

In the nineteenth century, morris was danced mainly by men, but today there are male, female and mixed sides dancing in all styles.

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