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Morris dance (Tripudium Mauritanicum) was the most frequently
mentioned of all the dances of the fifteenth century. In Renaissance
writings it is almost always mentioned that a Mouresca, Morisque
or Moresque (Arab Lambra,) or Morisco was danced and was said
to be brought to England from Spain by John
of Gaunt (1340-1389) brother of Edward, 'the Black Prince'
during the reign of his father, Edward III (1312-1377) around
1360 AD. In the beginning, the Morris dance was a pantomime
of war, depicting the struggle of the Moors and Christianity and
is one of the oldest English dances to date. However, it's origin
is not considered strictly English, but the modern version is.
Originally, it was done as a celebration type
dance whose participants acted out the original battle (initially,
hundreds of people would perform.) It was generally performed
on May Day, and introduced several characters, varying in numbers,
designation, and dress, according to taste or local customs, many
diverse features being added over time. The Dance originally only
used a solitary musician which would play a flute, bagpipe, violin,
or accordion and a Tabor. The dance eventually quieted down and
became enormously popular around 1500 A.D.
When the legendary Robin Hood (1160-1247)
was the foremost figure of the dance in Elizabethan times (1533-1603,)
the birth of spring on May Day would send the folk of England
into the woods to collect flowers, boughs and blossoms and wait
for the sun to rise, a symbol of the full opened year. They would
return home in the sunlight, flower-laden, dancing and capering
around an ox drawn cart which bore the May
Pole thus the Masque of Morris dance which Robin Hood danced
with Marian.
In the early forms of the English Morris, five
men, one being known as the "foreman of the Morris"
and another as the "Fool," and a boy who was dressed
up to characterize "maid Marian," were the only performers.
Accompanying these were a piper and/or a tabourer; with the sound
of this melody, the clashing of staves and the jingle of small
bells fastened to their costumes (garters,) they danced
to the lively measures being played. Soon after, the characters
of the "Merry Men of Sherwood" were introduced, Tom
the Piper with his pipe and tabor, the Dragon (no mention before
1585) and of course Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and Little John
became conspicuous figures of the dance.
Historically (pre 1890s): There appeared to
be three basic types of Morris
1) As a solo dance performed at Moorish courts, (usually with
blackened face to represent the moors) and a stamping of the
feet along with heel stamps.
2) As a couple or group dance which usually portrayed (sword)
combat.
3) Large scale that utilized upwards of 100-200 people in two
groups, dancing/acting out a dance battle pantomime. This as a
rule, would last 4-5 hours using a single musician.
England was a principal originator of this
folk dance by helping it to grow, making it more of a dance than
a celebration, by adding distinction to the dance, with bells,
waving handkerchiefs, real and fake horses (hobby horse)
and black amoors were a part of the dance, the dance steps were
very complex and all the while keeping up a Jog-Trot pace.
In the Morisco, the dancers held swords in
their hands, with the points upwards; this custom connects the
dance with the ancient Pyrrhic
or sword
dance, which that of the Goths did the same in their military
dance. In many English vicinities the dance is performed as a
sword
type dance utilizing fancy costumes, swords, sabers, sticks,
military marching, leaping and opposing sides. Many Choral rounds
of the time were very similar to the Mourisca with the British
reviving the dance back in the 1890s. The dance does not have
any turns or patterns per say, and did not glide or sway and was
not danced on toe but was very intricate in its movements, (which
are many.) The Mourisca was a big element of the first ballets,
often called "Spectacles" of that time.
The Mourisca or Morris dancers do the dance
differently in different parts of the world, and can be done as
a solo or group; however the basic idea of the dance is as follows:
1) Characteristic Form: Two rows, originally six, known as the
"Los seises" ("the sixes,") but later
became ten, along with a "fool" (arap) and a boy dressed
as a women (Dama) who is called "Mayde Marya" (as
in Robin Hood,) and another man carrying a cardboard figure
of a horse (hobby horse) on his hips. All of them wear fantastic
costumes hung with many bells. Blacking of the face was very common.
2) Classic Form: Is done with two rows and three dancers each.
These rows move to and fro, zigging and zagging, perform in a
chain or can perform opposite each other with a vast amount of
variations. The classical form used dibber's (sticks) rhythmically
when opposing sides would meet (a type of ring dance called
bean sitting.)
The dance formerly consisted and described
as a type of "Prussian Goose-step" or later a military
march with the leg kicking forward and a little skip with the
other. The arms are described as swinging vigorously and the bells
were used to accent the kicking or flinging of the leg. The dance
also used leaps that are about a foot high. At the conclusion
of the dance the participants sometimes engaged in shouting. Swords
and Sabers (originally wooden) are often times used to
portray battle when both sides meet. Sticks (like the stick
dance) were used rhythmically thru-out the dance as well.
If someone was killed (acted-out) they were buried on the
spot with no priest present.
Morris dancing does go by many various names,
some are known as Moresque, Morisque, Morisco, Morrisk, Morrice
and Moorish, however the dance was essentially the same and was
mainly a male only dance, while on the other hand the Zambra,
a Flamenco/
Spanish
dance is of direct Moorish origin, performed by women only
(moras and moros) and was only danced to flutes and oboes.
The Sarabande
also is a Spanish dance of Moorish origin when the moors invaded
Spain. Of the Portuguese dancers, in their ceremonies usual on
conferring knighthood fights with the Moors were replicated, and
thus the form called Mourisca was originated. In the Azores it
was still preserved under a dramatic form called Mouriscadas.
There was also a dance known as the Moor's Pavane
in the 16th. Century. As a side note the Puritans saw the Morris
dance as a heathen form and prohibited it from being done until
Restoration marked a half hearted revival.
Fernaão Lopes, describing the character
of King Pedro I, says of him that he was a great votary of the
Morris dance. Dances such as the Baixa, Chacola, Mourisca, and
Villão were usual at all Court weddings in the sixteenth
century. The Baixa is a distinctive kind which includes other
dances. Religious festivals gave most opportunity for the dance
as it is pretty much an exhibition (not-social) type dance.
In 1599 William Kemp (actor), danced
the Morris dance from London to Norwichin nine days (took him
over a period of four weeks) which he wrote about in 1600
titled "Nine Daies Morrice," in this writing he called
himself "Caualiero Kemp, head-Master of Morrice-dauncers."
He took three people with him on his quest, Thomas Slye his Taberer,
William Bee his servant and George Sprat.
Today the Morris dance is a festival or show
dance, done by performers of the traditions, rather than a social
dance and is considered firmly English. In the simple form it
consists of three men, usually dressed in white, carrying handkerchiefs
and or sticks with small bells attached to their legs, and Baldrics
(ribbons) worn on the shoulders. However, there are different
"Traditions" or styles of Morris dancing, which can
have all male, all female or mixed with number of performers being
3, 5 or 8 etc. and can have a certain amount of overlap of styles.
There are different styles or "Traditions"
of Morris dancing in different parts, with some being called North
West Morris, Bampton Morris, Bedlam or Border Morris, Headington
Morris, Adderbury Morris, etcetera. In Morris speak the styles
consist of an Ale (gathering of dancers), Caller (basically
a choreographer), Chorus (Set or Corner), Kit (Costume),
Set (Number of dancers), Team (Organized group.) These
dances or sets may utilize a "Fool" (usually the
leader), a "Hobby Horse," "Sticks," "Bells,"
"Swords," "Jigs," "Hornpipes," etc.
and "May" is still the favorite month of the year for
this dance as was in olden times.
There is much debate over the history of the
Morris dance, with some ignoring its roots of the Spanish Moors
while others embrace it, whatever the history of this dance, it
is as fun to watch today as I am sure it was back in the day of
its creation.
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