Goat Foot Morris
Imagine…
A village green on a beautiful spring day, a gentle breeze carries the sound of a melodeon beginning to play as the tinkling of bells breaks the calm, as the Goat Foot Morris dance on whooping and yelling, staves clashing, tatters flying, swooping together then outwards once more.
This is Border Morris Dancing…
Border Morris comes from the Welsh borders of England and has many stories connected with where it came from…
Some say it has Pagan roots in the marauding clans fighting each other across the borders of two land, where masks and face paint to frighten the opposing side.
Some say it comes from the farming culture of England… when farm hands were laid off by the farmers for the winter, to survive they would black their face and make their clothes into rags and go down to the village square and dance for alms and this way they would not be recognised by the farmers and be rehired the following year for the harvest.
There are also stories about coal miners upon finishing a shift with their faces all black, would go dancing in the town square for fun before going for dinner or a beer.
Where ever this wonderful tradition came from, it is still very much alive today and you will always recognise a Morris person by their tankard full of beer… we do love our elbow bending exercises!
So if you want to do something original, exciting and fun… come and have a go with Goat Foot Morris Now!
Blog, Morris Dancing | admin March 11, 2010