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Thread: Morris Dancing Faces Extinction

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    Default Morris Dancing Faces Extinction

    Morris dancing could be "extinct" within 20 years because young people are too embarrassed to take part, a UK Morris association has warned.

    The number of people taking part in the English folk dance is falling while the average age of the dancers is going up.

    The Morris Ring, which represents 200 troupes, hopes a recruitment drive will revive the flagging tradition.

    "There is still time for new blood to get ready for the spring fertility offensive," said the ring's Paul Reece.

    Morris dancing involves teams of dancers - often wearing hats and bells on their legs - wielding handkerchiefs, sticks or swords, to the accompaniment of folk music.

    It dates back centuries, though its origins are unclear.

    Charlie Corcoran, bagman of the Morris Ring, said: "There's a distinct possibility that in 20 years' time there will be nobody left.

    "It worries me a great deal. Young people are just too embarrassed to take part.

    "This is a serious situation. The average age of Morris dancing sides is getting older and older.

    "Once we've lost this part of our culture, it will be almost impossible to revive it." (Continues)
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    I hope not. That`s pretty sad, really.

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    Well they should had thought of this earlier. I guess they're a little surprised that Ali and Brahmin doesn't want to do some Morris dancing.

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    I was taught country dancing as a child in Somerset. I still remember vividly the May Day celebrations, the Maypole and us children dancing around it with our costumes on.
    I still remember the partner I had during lessons. She was my first love.

    Now, the school doesn't do them anymore. Long gone are the May Day festivals and the custom of generations. Replaced with watered down tombolas and plays pertinent to social issues.

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    There are actually several groups that practice Morris Dancing here in Hawaii. My wife started taking dance lessons from some of them for a while, but was dismayed that there were only a handful of elderly Scots, with everyone else being Hawaii's special blend of Asian/Islander
    Last edited by Psychonaut; 01-06-2009 at 11:07 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BeornWulfWer View Post
    I was taught country dancing as a child in Somerset. I still remember vividly the May Day celebrations, the Maypole and us children dancing around it with our costumes on.
    I still remember the partner I had during lessons. She was my first love.

    Now, the school doesn't do them anymore. Long gone are the May Day festivals and the custom of generations. Replaced with watered down tombolas and plays pertinent to social issues.
    I lived in England until I was 10, I remember having to do the country dancing during PE lessons, we hated it, much rather be outside playing football.
    I remember dancing around the May Pole too, at the time I hated it, as did every other lad in the class, we thought it was really gay, but when I got older and realised the historical significance of it I'm glad I got to do it. I doubt they still do it there, even when I was at the school we all had to learn to sing and play the Rivers of Babylon, God knows why, it was a Catholic school.
    Here in Ireland Irish dancing is still pretty strong, and Irish-Americans do very well to keep the tradition alive over there as well, Riverdance kind of made it cool again.
    Glaine ár gcroí - Neart ár ngéag - Beart de réir ár mbriathar


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    Quote Originally Posted by Oisín View Post
    Here in Ireland Irish dancing is still pretty strong, and Irish-Americans do very well to keep the tradition alive over there as well, Riverdance kind of made it cool again.
    Irish dancing has an amazing popularity in England.

    My partner took our daughter to Irish dancing every Saturday, but she didn't really like it much. She felt constricted by having to keep her hands to the side and keeping the body still.
    I strongly believe she wants to do ballet instead. Which is just as good.

    You'd never catch me up on the floor doing any kind of dancing now, but as you said, it is good to keep the traditions alive and well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BeornWulfWer View Post
    Irish dancing has an amazing popularity in England.
    Yeah it's very big with the Irish community over there, they like their kids to hang onto the traditions, my mum and sisters used to do it when we lived over the pond.
    My partner took our daughter to Irish dancing every Saturday, but she didn't really like it much. She felt constricted by having to keep her hands to the side and keeping the body still.
    I strongly believe she wants to do ballet instead. Which is just as good.

    You'd never catch me up on the floor doing any kind of dancing now, but as you said, it is good to keep the traditions alive and well.
    Me neither, two left feet.
    Glaine ár gcroí - Neart ár ngéag - Beart de réir ár mbriathar


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    As comical as it appears, Morris Dancing is a part of England's Cultural Heritage, how sad it would be to see it die.

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    But young people are more than willing to dance like absolute morons at raves but wont have anything to do with anything traditional or positive such as Morris Dancing.

    I seen some Morris Dancing in my local forest in the summer at an apple picking event and I was impressed it's really enjoying to watch, not one of the Morris Dancers was under 45!

    reading this that it's on the verge of extinction I'm tempted to take it up myself I'll have to see when my local group (called the Mersey Morris Men) practise and see if I can jungle it about with other things but I dont think I would have the time as there seems to be a fair few routines to learn so some time would need to be dedicated.

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