Morris Dance

There are records of Morris Dancing dating back to 1477. In the modern day, it is considered to be a uniquely English activity, although it is mentioned in Renaissance documents in France, Italy, and Spain. The term then was "moorish dance" and "Moresco", which was gradually becoming corrupted to "Morris Dance".

Today, there are three predominant styles of Morris Dancing:

• Cotswold Morris
  • Dances from the English Cotswolds, normally danced with handkerchiefs or sticks to embellish the hand movements
• North West Morris
  • More military in style and often processional. Clogs are a characteristic feature of this style of dance
• Border Morris
  • From the English/Welsh border. A free-flowing, informal style, normally danced with blackened faces and wearing rag coats

Cotswold Morris North West Morris Border Morris

Photographs copyright: King John's Morris. Used with permission.

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