Morris Dance: Difference between revisions
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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. | |||
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 == | == History == | ||
The earliest reference to a morris dance was found in the will of Alice Wetenhale from Bury St | 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 47). According to Forrest, 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 (48). But, Forrest points out, it does indicate that it must have been of common knowledge in the fifteenth century (ibid). Further references from the sixteenth century place the morris dance at 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 | ||
Edmunds in 1458. She wanted to leave her daughter “[…]three silver cups, sculpted with a morris | 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. | ||
dance[…]” (Forrest | |||
According to Forrest | |||
too much information about the relevance for the people at that time per se. But it | |||
must have been of common knowledge in the fifteenth century. Further references from the | |||
sixteenth century place the morris dance | |||
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 == | == References == | ||
"Morris Dance." ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', September 2014, EBSCOhost, http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/s9118275/vpn.php?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid&db=ers&AN=87996460&lang=de&site=eds-live&scope=site. Accessed 04 January 2018. | |||
http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/s9118275/vpn.php?url=http://search. | |||
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 4 January 2018. | |||
https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/122405. Accessed | |||
Forrest, John. | Forrest, John.''The History of Morris Dancing, 1458–1750.'' Cambridge: James Clarke, 1999. | ||
Latest revision as of 08:59, 11 January 2018
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 47). According to Forrest, 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 (48). But, Forrest points out, it does indicate that it must have been of common knowledge in the fifteenth century (ibid). Further references from the sixteenth century place the morris dance at 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
"Morris Dance." Encyclopædia Britannica, September 2014, EBSCOhost, http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/s9118275/vpn.php?url=http://search.ebscohost.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 4 January 2018.
Forrest, John.The History of Morris Dancing, 1458–1750. Cambridge: James Clarke, 1999.