British Culture - User contributions [en]

Morris Dance

2018-01-08T21:58:05Z

JoSlow:

The Morris Dance (can also be found under various kinds of spellings in the dictionary) is a dance that
has been performed in English countrysides for many generations and although it underwent
changes from its beginnings until today, it has thus become a custom for many British people. It can
be described as a festive group performance that is acted out by dressed up men. In order to
underline their dance rhythm they hold different kinds of tools and have decorations attached to
their dresses. Many times another person who is disguised as a character, which can be found in
folktales and legends joins the group in their performance.

== History ==

The earliest reference to a morris dance was found in the will of Alice Wetenhale from Bury St
Edmunds in 1458. She wanted to leave her daughter “[…]three silver cups, sculpted with a morris
dance[…]” (Forrest, 1999, p.47).
According to Forrest (1999), having a reference to a morris dance appearing in a will does not give
too much information about the relevance for the people at that time per se. But it indicates that it
must have been of common knowledge in the fifteenth century. Further references from the
sixteenth century place the morris dance in the royal court of [[Henry VIII]]. In the course of the
Tudor dynasty the morris dance was a prominent event that usually took place in front of the court
during seasonal revels or in urban procession to spread the holiday spirit. They were also a part of
midsummer guild processions and May games. Morris dancing was first mainly celebrated in
[[Renaissance]] cities but later on shifted more into rural areas.

== References ==

"Morrs Dance." ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', September 2014, EBSCOhost,
http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/s9118275/vpn.php?url=http://search.ebscoho
st.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid&db=ers&AN=87996460&lang=de&site=eds-
live&scope=site. Accessed 04 January 2018.

"morris dance, n." ''OED Online'', Oxford University Press, June 2017,
https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/122405. Accessed 04 January 2018.

Forrest, John. ''The History of Morris Dancing, 1458–1750.'' Cambridge: James Clarke & Co Ltd, 1999.

Morris Dance

2018-01-05T15:23:15Z

JoSlow:

The Morris Dance (also spelled Moresgue,Morrice,Morisque , or Morrisk ) is a form of a traditonal and very lively art of folk dance performed in rural England. It is usually done by a group of people that is arranged in a specific formation. The group wears characteristical costumes with bells and ribbons attached to them, holding handkerchiefs or sticks in order to underline their dance rhythm. The dancers are often joined by another person who represents a legendary or symbolic character such as The Fool, Hobby Horse or Maid Marian etc.

== History ==

The earliest reference to a morris dance was found in the will of Alice Wetenhale from Bury St Edmunds in 1458. She wanted to leave her daughter “three silver cups, sculpted with a morris dance”.
Having a reference to a morris dance appearing in a will does not give too much information about the relvance for the people at that time per se. But it indicates that it must have been of common knowledge in the fifteenth century. Further references from the sixteenth century place the morris dance in the royal court of Henry VIII. In the course of the Tudor dynasty the morris dance was a prominent event that usually took place in front of the court during seasonal revels or in urban procession to spread the holiday spirit. They were also a part of midsummer guild processions and May games. Morris dancing was first mainly celebrated in Renaissance cities but later on shifted more into rural areas.

== References ==

1. Encyclopædia Britannica . Morris Dance http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=1&sid=36ba8fa6-a0db-43e1-8279-becb72e2d8e6%40sessionmgr4008&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHVpZCZsYW5nPWRlJnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=87996460&db=ers [04.01.2018]

2. Oxford English Dictionary. Morris Dance http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/122405?rskey=qjSXLl&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid [ 04.01.2018]

3. Forrest, John. The History of Morris Dancing, 1458–1750. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co Ltd, 1999.

Morris Dance

2018-01-05T15:16:29Z

JoSlow:

Morris Dance

2018-01-04T14:31:13Z

JoSlow: Blanked the page

Morris Dance

2018-01-04T14:29:45Z

JoSlow:

Morris Dance

2018-01-04T14:26:39Z

JoSlow: /* English Folk Dance */

Morris Dance

2018-01-04T13:29:55Z

JoSlow:

== English Folk Dance ==

Morris Dance

2018-01-04T13:28:35Z

JoSlow: Created page with " == Morris Dance =="

== Morris Dance ==