Non-Folk Morris

This section is for those that are keen on Morris, but do not follow one of the popular fringes of Morris - Folk. This is not an anti-Folk page (well, not much), but just a non-Folk page. In many areas, Morris was not limited to one cultural group, but was done by all. I am sure that the reason why in the UK, many people do not consider themselves to be the type of person who would Morris Dance, is because they are not the stereotypical bearded, 2CV-driving, vegetarian, sandal-wearing, finger-in-the-ear folkies.

From this point on, it will be referred to as the "F" word, F**K.

A music poll showed that only 3% of the public ever listen to f**k music. Why is it then that when we go to many Morris do's we are offered vegi food and have Ceilidh's? If more people prefer beefburgers and go to discos, why is this not present in Morris? Why do we have to sleep on church hall floors? What is wrong with hotels?

I used to enjoy Latin American dancing, you know, Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba etc. However, I did not consider listening to Joe Loss records or visiting South America. As there is no bias, it attracts people from all walks of life.

A few years back, I paid to go on a weekend of dance, to Thaxted. OK, I was the only guy wearing a suit on the Friday night. My tour stopped for lunch, people started playing folk music. After lunch, they decided just to continue singing folk songs, rather than complete the day's dancing. I ended up outside with the coach driver. I'd prefer to go to a Reggae Club or Blues Club, but would not expect to impose my musical tastes on others. Surely if you want to Morris Dance you join a Morris Dance Team. If you want to F**k sing, you join a F**k club. It is inferred blackballing : "I'm sorry Sir, you can't join our club, unless you're wearing a hand knitted sweater". It is not because it is F**k, it is that it is an additional activity that you are not associated. It could be train spotting, stamp collecting, whatever.

Remonstrating with an official of a Morris organisation, that only one social group (F**k) is effectively being targetted by his organisation, he said "I know, that's just the way I like it!".

I used to dance with a local team, but their heavy f**k bias put Morris almost as a secondary activity. Lets face it, it is difficult to put in a commitment when you do not have a feeling of belonging. I now travel far further to teams that only expect me to Morris Dance.

So What?

So what this page is for, is for you "normal" people, who just love the dancing. Let me know what is going on in the non-f**k world of Morris. Are there any Ales and Weekends of Dance for us "normal" chaps, or do we have to meet in secret?

Simon Bayliss :

I've had a mad idea (well, it was a throwaway line by my wife that I picked up) for some time now to do Morris Dancing in techno clubs. I've been reading your website and you seem a likely chap to have a word with, for pointers, advice, ideas etc., as I'm coming at this from a clubbing perspective. My wife raised the idea after a night out, that techno, and other forms of hard dance music, were perfect for Morris Dancing [Click on http://www.rathergood.kewlio.net/flash/morris_dancers_web.swf to see what I mean - the MCing isn't my cup of tea but you get my drift]. Not only that, but just take the average Morris dancer's clothes and die them in UV colours, swap the sticks for glow-sticks, the tankards round the belt for bottles of water, and no-one would bat an eyelid in many
underground clubs.

I love dancing and I get my fix in clubs and large tents in muddy fields, but I've never Morris danced or desired to do so. Like much of the population I imagine, I'm put off traditional morris due to the knitted-tofu sandals image and a dislike of folk music. I have,
however, always admired the exuberance, joy and love of dancing that I've seen in some displays, and (at the risk of entering Pseud's Corner) the iconoclasm inherent in rejecting society's diktat that 'coolness' is king. In the underground club sub-culture the punters are, on the whole, motivated by a love of dancing and having good, creative fun with those around themselves, and are responsive to the jugglers, poi dancers, stilt walkers and other performers there on the night.

I'm convinced that my wife has hit on something and that morris would work in a club, and add to the general party vibe and be great fun. I've mentioned this to the promoters of a small (200-300 punters) club night I go to and they seem fairly keen to get something together for October, when they are back indoors after the summer outdoor party season is over. To this end, if anything is going to come of this, I need to start thinking about it now. What advice can you give me? What would be the minimum number of dancers required? How much practice would probably be required? Can complete novices pull it off, or are experienced hands needed? Do you know of any links that could be useful?