English Morris dancers give new step to tradition

Traditional English Morris dancing, a folk custom that dates back hundreds of years, has inspired a new generation of practitioners who aim to prove that it's not out of step with the times.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WEB
• LIFESTYLE
• BRITAIN
• DANCE
• TRADITION

[misiubear]

Is it really all homosapien has aspired to after singing it's own praises for so long?

Cultural Identity can never be static and WILL always evolve around it's host,otherwise it would not be a culture.Stolen from who copied from blah blah blah.If you have nothing to add then add it!

It would be unlikely you'd see a moor dancing in the street to begin with, let alone as stated in such numbers!

The commonly held belief is that the blackened faces disguised the dancers from punitive employers.

[archolman]

From about 1:25, they're not swords, they're rappers, & were used to clean sweat from horses during grooming, when horses were the main motive power in mines, etc.

[strathpipe]

english tradition my A... This was brought back from the crusades ''Moorish dancing'' they still dance this in Wales as well They danced it in Scotland for a very short time the reason being that the Scots have better dances and the music to go with them.This is just made up nonsense as the costumes will vouch for.The english don't have much in the way of tradition so they steal it where ever they can. A bit sad really but that's their real tradition.

[Shufei]

English people ought to love and cherish their Morris dancing tradition. It's an exciting and joyous art that exemplifies the best of that nation. It's sad to see this 16 year old shnookered into the cheap and shoddy "cool Britannia" pose. I'm not English, but would love to watch and learn Morris dancing if given the opportunity!

[irateofwatford]

@demetriushardin There weren't that many Moors in England, and certainly not in positions of authority. Painting one's face black is quite simply an effective form of disguise. One man with his face painted is difficult to pick out in a group of people with painted faces, especially if they're all wearing matching costumes. The Moors' heads on European coats of arms are an allusion to the Crusades.

[demetriushardin]

why they paint their faces black. they come from the celebrations they had after the exspelling of the moors black people that ruled in those parts. that why the royal family coats of arms have moors heads and why they are called the black noblity

[jc61046]

@sebseb1 eurgh, a snob. :D

[cjwaywell]

Outstanding

[sebseb1]

eurgh, an american

[denqua]

Ah, but some people just do what the hell they want and don't really care what their friends do, or don't, accept.