News12 mins ago
Morris Dancers with painted black faces
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I witnessed a morris dancer being called a racist the other day because he had a painted black face. this is a well known Border morris tradition which goes back to when people used to dance to earn extra money and painted their faces with boot polish/soot in order to be anonymous, painted faces also added to the mystery and mischieviousness of the dancers. Morris dancers are great people, full of fun, and they care so much about carrying on this wonderful English tradition. it is such a shame that some people can be so narrow minded.
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Ok maybe not.
http://www.geocities.com/wickham_morris/images /Wim03_01.jpg
These are blokes with no beards right?
http://www.geocities.com/wickham_morris/images /Wim03_01.jpg
These are blokes with no beards right?
QM is requesting that they are stamped out mercilessly. Is this the man for the job?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.shaw2/PMDoug .jpg
I'm not convinced, they almost seem to be enjoying it.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.shaw2/PMDoug .jpg
I'm not convinced, they almost seem to be enjoying it.
Thank you Aprilis for your support of Morris dancing, I really don't think they deserve all this abuse?
I agree that some Morris groups, particulary the traditional "Cotswold" style (White outfits, ribbons, Dancing with hankies ) can appear a bit stuffy etc but I have seen some fantastic Morris groups. Border Morris (painted faces, Raggy jackets, top hats and feathers dancing with sticks) are fantastic to watch and even better to join in! May be some of you should try it?
I agree that some Morris groups, particulary the traditional "Cotswold" style (White outfits, ribbons, Dancing with hankies ) can appear a bit stuffy etc but I have seen some fantastic Morris groups. Border Morris (painted faces, Raggy jackets, top hats and feathers dancing with sticks) are fantastic to watch and even better to join in! May be some of you should try it?
This is from the Wolfshead & Vixen's Morris:
"For those who are unfamiliar with us Wolfshead are a Men's Border Style Morris side and Vixen are the contrasting ladies side.
English Border style Morris dancers are a form of 18th and 19th century aggressive busking. There is no real historical evidence linking pre-Christian practices to Morris Dancing, This common belief is down to the romantic notions of Victorian 'gentlemen folklorists', so is sadly in modern parlance "a load of old Bollo!"
The actual origin of blackened faces in the Morris tradition is unrecorded and the earliest reference dates to 1609. Border Morris itself originates in the heart of what became the Industrial Revolution counties, giving it a firm connection with urban greasy grafters rather than swede bashing yokels!
The blackened face is also a feature of East anglian Molly Dancing and the Kentish tradition of 'Hoodening'. The Chimney Sweep dancers of the South-East, would have, in all likelihood, just not washed, the ingrained soot being a badge of their trade.
Morris dancing in all forms, has a long history of rowdiness and brushes with authority, so the 19th century influence of Ned Ludd (industrial activists) and Captain Swing (rural activists) and their followers, disguising themselves as women and blacking up to avoid recognition is another possibility. In a small community a little disguise goes a long way�.
Since 1995 we have appeared all over the UK at Folk Festivals to Pagan/New Age events and performed in on or near everything from Stonehenge to television.
We like the black kit as no-one else in the whole wide world has got one like it. Design wise we inherited the basic look from a Wolfshead and Vixen 'ancestor' side called 'Long Barrow/Lost women' c1991. Its development was augmented by the fact that many of the early members of the side came from the 1980's Goth, Heavy
"For those who are unfamiliar with us Wolfshead are a Men's Border Style Morris side and Vixen are the contrasting ladies side.
English Border style Morris dancers are a form of 18th and 19th century aggressive busking. There is no real historical evidence linking pre-Christian practices to Morris Dancing, This common belief is down to the romantic notions of Victorian 'gentlemen folklorists', so is sadly in modern parlance "a load of old Bollo!"
The actual origin of blackened faces in the Morris tradition is unrecorded and the earliest reference dates to 1609. Border Morris itself originates in the heart of what became the Industrial Revolution counties, giving it a firm connection with urban greasy grafters rather than swede bashing yokels!
The blackened face is also a feature of East anglian Molly Dancing and the Kentish tradition of 'Hoodening'. The Chimney Sweep dancers of the South-East, would have, in all likelihood, just not washed, the ingrained soot being a badge of their trade.
Morris dancing in all forms, has a long history of rowdiness and brushes with authority, so the 19th century influence of Ned Ludd (industrial activists) and Captain Swing (rural activists) and their followers, disguising themselves as women and blacking up to avoid recognition is another possibility. In a small community a little disguise goes a long way�.
Since 1995 we have appeared all over the UK at Folk Festivals to Pagan/New Age events and performed in on or near everything from Stonehenge to television.
We like the black kit as no-one else in the whole wide world has got one like it. Design wise we inherited the basic look from a Wolfshead and Vixen 'ancestor' side called 'Long Barrow/Lost women' c1991. Its development was augmented by the fact that many of the early members of the side came from the 1980's Goth, Heavy
Thanks for the welcome, Aprilis.
'Border' morris isn't universal because the tradition is from the Welsh Border counties as opposed to the usual 'Cotswold' style. It's characterised by the use of stick rather than hanky and the blackened faces. It is literally 'dark' and hence it was seen as a bit threatening. But it is tradtional - Border Dances were collected in the early 20th century by Cecil Sharp amongst others.
'Border' morris isn't universal because the tradition is from the Welsh Border counties as opposed to the usual 'Cotswold' style. It's characterised by the use of stick rather than hanky and the blackened faces. It is literally 'dark' and hence it was seen as a bit threatening. But it is tradtional - Border Dances were collected in the early 20th century by Cecil Sharp amongst others.
These are another famous group of 'blacked-up' morris-type dancers and I make a special trip to watch them every Easter Saturday. The dances themselves become slightly less organised as the day goes on as there are numerous stops at various hostelries along the route the dancers take.
http://www.coconutters.co.uk/
I think that you would have to have particularly narrow and sour views to find anyracist under- or overtones in this tradition........
http://www.coconutters.co.uk/
I think that you would have to have particularly narrow and sour views to find anyracist under- or overtones in this tradition........
My sister in law was a clog dancer and her hubby was a morris dancer. When my niece was little she used to go around with them at the weekends. It took some explaining when she wrote in her English homework that she had been in a pub with Daddy dressed as a woman! It had been his turn to be the 'Molly' and dress up!!
Palming our daughters off to the wealthiest merchant and marrying our first cousins was traditional. Some things just aint proper no more.
Anyway why all this over-sensitivity about morris dancers? I tried it once, but retired through injury (to my credibility mainly) but I can still play a mean rendition of Old Black Joe on the accordion.
There, I�ve said it, in public. I might have to change my name now.
Anyway why all this over-sensitivity about morris dancers? I tried it once, but retired through injury (to my credibility mainly) but I can still play a mean rendition of Old Black Joe on the accordion.
There, I�ve said it, in public. I might have to change my name now.
Up 'ere we have the Bacup Coconutters, now I have to profess to being slightly proud of 'em, if only for the reason that we've sod all else to be proud of round our end!
Enjoy :-)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sNbGYRSsV8g
Enjoy :-)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sNbGYRSsV8g
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