Morris Dancing in Kingston upon Thames
After a weekend of training, Saturday and Sunday, I find that today is a Bank Holiday in the UK, May Day.
Unlike some countries around the world that have May 1st as the official May Day holiday, the UK stays with allocating the holiday on a Monday.
Having nothing to do except my washing and ironing, and no-one to talk to, I decided to have a walk down into Kingston upon Thames, and I was soon amongst the celebrations and crowds, families, friends, enjoying the shopping and festivities.
One group caught my eye, some dancers.
These dancers are traditional to the UK, and are called Morris Dancers. It is an English Folk dance, usually accompanied by accordion music, with the dancers, again usually dressed in white, wearing bells around their legs, and flowers in their hats.
The dancing itself is very rythmic, and the dancers usually have some implement, sticks, swords etc, that they use in the dance, and is thought to date back to the 15th century.
In this short clip, you can see the OFF-SPRING MORRIS from Kingston upon Thames.
Yes we have some strange customs in the UK.
Unlike some countries around the world that have May 1st as the official May Day holiday, the UK stays with allocating the holiday on a Monday.
Having nothing to do except my washing and ironing, and no-one to talk to, I decided to have a walk down into Kingston upon Thames, and I was soon amongst the celebrations and crowds, families, friends, enjoying the shopping and festivities.
One group caught my eye, some dancers.
These dancers are traditional to the UK, and are called Morris Dancers. It is an English Folk dance, usually accompanied by accordion music, with the dancers, again usually dressed in white, wearing bells around their legs, and flowers in their hats.
The dancing itself is very rythmic, and the dancers usually have some implement, sticks, swords etc, that they use in the dance, and is thought to date back to the 15th century.
In this short clip, you can see the OFF-SPRING MORRIS from Kingston upon Thames.
Yes we have some strange customs in the UK.
It was Constant Billy from Headington, and a nice, tidy dance it was.
Morris, in one form or another was recorded in France, Netherlands, Germany, as well as England, Wales and Scotland during the 15th and 16th centuries. It survived into the 20th Century in England and Wales as a handfull of active sides, and locations with a single dance. There are now around 1000 sides dancing.
The earliest record is from 1448, a series of inventories from Caister Castle lists a tapestry of a Morris Dance.
Thanks for publishing the video. See you at practice in the autumn?
Best Regards
Colin Messer
Foreman - Off-Spring Morris
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Thank you for the extra information about Morris.
I have two left feet when dancing, so I shall not be able to join your group, and my travels around the world means I am often not in Kingston.
Good luck with your group.
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