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-- The 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 dibbers (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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