Morris Dancing: Tradition, Forms, and Modern Practice

Morris dancing is a living English folk tradition characterized by bell-clad dancers, handkerchiefs or sticks, and regional styles such as Cotswold and Border Morris. It declined during industrialization and war but revived in the 20th century; today a mix of village teams, festival sides, and international groups keep it active.

What is Morris dancing?

Morris dancing is a traditional English folk dance performed by groups known as "sides." Dancers typically wear distinctive kit, strap bells to their shins, and use props such as handkerchiefs, sticks, or clogs. Routines range from linked figures to partner work and include striking leaps, rhythmical stepping, and coordinated stick-clashing.

Origins and historical context

Scholars debate the origins of morris. Nineteenth- and twentieth-century collectors and commentators sometimes linked it to pre-Christian fertility rites, but firm evidence for such ancient origins is lacking. Documentary references to morris appear from the 16th century onward; for example, the Puritan writer Philip Stubbes criticized it in 1583. Morris also appears in the cultural record around the time of Shakespeare, who included morris performers and references in his plays and stage practice.

The dance's popularity waned with the social and economic shifts of the Industrial Revolution and the human losses of the First World War. A revival in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by collectors like Cecil Sharp and others, helped preserve many local traditions.

Styles and local traditions

Several regional forms survive. Cotswold (or "Cotswold Morris") is associated with villages between Oxford and the Welsh border and typically features sticks or handkerchiefs. North West Morris, Molly dancing, and Border Morris each have distinct steps, rhythms, and costumes. Some villages - including Abingdon, Bampton, Headington Quarry, and Chipping Campden - are noted for long-running traditions or revived village teams.

Sides usually number around six to eight dancers, though formations vary by tradition. Captains or callers lead figures; musicians often play melodeon, pipe and tabor, fiddle, or concertina.

Modern practice and organisations

The 20th and 21st centuries saw morris become a living, adaptable tradition. In the UK several bodies support the activity, notably the Morris Ring (founded in 1934), the Morris Federation, and Open Morris. These organizations reflect differing approaches to tradition, membership, and gender roles; today many sides are mixed or women-only as well as the longstanding men's teams.

Outside Britain, expatriate communities and enthusiasts maintain morris sides in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and the United States. Groups in the U.S. often link with the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) and with regional networks. Estimates of the number of morris sides in the U.S. vary; sources list a wide range of teams active today .

Seeing morris today

You can find performances at village fêtes, folk festivals, university events, and summer street gatherings. Most sides welcome visitors to practices; local or national organisations and festival listings are good starting points to find a nearby team or upcoming performance.

1. Verify current estimate of the number of morris sides active in the United States and update the text with a sourced figure.