2. What do you think you know?

3. It’s a type of folk dancing, usually with music. Handkerchiefs, sticks and sometimes swords are used! English records show Morris dancing occurring as far back as the late 15 th century. The term ‘Morris’ might have come from the term ‘Moorish Dance’ (which connects the custom to Africa!) Today, it’s thought of as ‘English’ but there are over 150 sides in the USA. Sides are also found in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France and the Netherlands!

4. There are currently several types of Morris Dancing around Britain including… …can you find out more about these styles of dancing? How are they similar? How are they different? Where are they from? DO YOU HAVE A LOCAL MORRIS SIDE? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED? WHAT STYLE DO THEY DANCE?

5. The rags represented poverty as early Morris Dancers were poor. The hats are often designed to reflect the side and the person wearing it. It is thought that the pheasant feathers were a snub to their bosses who owned the land the dancers poached the birds from. The ‘black face’ was a disguise as dancing for money was not allowed. Dancers did not want to lose their jobs or end up in jail. Soot from their fires was used. The bells have been worn by Morris dancers for centuries and some say they are used to scare away evil spirits! Sticks are used by Border Morris sides and are usually cut from trees in local woods with permission from the farmer / landowner Click on the hotspots to find out more about the Border Morris kit…