Dance, Dance Wherever You May Be
Morris dancing has a long history in Tring and surrounding areas. Its story can be traced back to the 15th century, and it’s still popular today, with May Day dancing at dawn in Aldbury being a firm local tradition.
This form of English folk dance features dancers in costume, often wearing bells on their shoes or shins, and accompanied by a single musician or band. The fiddle, concertina, melodeon and accordion are popular now, but 400 years ago the musicians would have played pipe and tabor (a small drum). Music is an important factor for the Aldbury Morris Men, and their dancing is often followed by singing in the pub!
The first mention of Morris dancing comes from records in 1448, which note that the Goldmiths Company in London paid Morris dancers seven shillings.
The earliest mentions see Morris dancing taking place in courtly settings – it’s suggested that thanks to the closeness of the English and Italian courts that it may have descended from Italian dances.
By the early 16th century Morris dancing became a regular fixture at Church festivals and later in the century the Morris became a dance of working peasants and was seen at village fetes, and the May Day revels; Shakespeare says: ‘as fit as a Morris for May Day’ and ‘a Whitsun Morris dance’.
By the late 19th century the practice had dwindled and only four teams (or sides) can claim to have had an uninterrupted history; Abingdon, Bampton, Headington Quarry, and Chipping Campden.
Morris Dancing started to be revived at the end of 1899 when Cecil Sharp, the English collector of folk songs, folk dances and instrumental music, visited a friend’s house in Headington, near Oxford, and saw the Headington Quarry Morris side perform. He collected several tunes from the side’s musician, William Kimber; and then began collecting the dances – the first revival performance was by young women in London.
A few teams were formed in the next couple of decades and the Morris Ring was created in 1934. In the 50s and 60s the revival began in earnest – the Aldbury Morris Men among them – with sides including men’s, women’s and mixed. This caused some debate, even though evidence showed women dancing Morris in the 16th century. Two other national (and international) bodies were formed, the Morris Federation and Open Morris, which allowed full membership for women’s and mixed teams. They all now have members from other countries as well, including Russia, Cyprus, Scandinavia and the US.
The name Morris is thought to come from a Flemish word for Moorish (Morisk dance, moreys daunce, morisse daunce), and opinions seem divided on why this is. Cecil Sharp suggested it might have come about because of the dancers blacking their faces as part of a ritual disguise, others because of its exotic moves and costumes.
In 2020, the Joint Morris Organisation called for the discontinuation of black makeup and groups that used face paint switched to using blue, green, or yellow and black stripes.
The dancers are sometimes accompanied by traditional folk characters. The Fool tries to distract the dancers while entertaining the audience. The Hobby Horse – which is not always a horse – engages with the audience. The Betty – a cross-dressing character – is believed by some to be an ancient fertility symbol.
Aldbury Morris Men
While the origins of Morris Dancing in England are unknown, the origins of Morris Dancing in Aldbury are known!
In 1969 the Hayloft Folk Club met in a barn behind The Greyhound pub – and a group of young men, led by Rod Puddefoot, decided to try Cotswold Morris Dancing and formed the Aldbury Morris Men. 55 years later Aldbury Morris Men continue to dance out at a different pub every Thursday night during the summer, and endeavour to perfect their skills during the winter practice season every Thursday evening in the Memorial Hall. As with all Morris sides the season starts on May Day with dancing by the pond at dawn – not as early in Aldbury as it is in East Anglia!
Next is Aldbury May Fayre and then dancing at several village fetes during the rest of the summer.
Rod no longer dances but continues to be an excellent writer and singer of folk songs, many based on Tring and Aldbury. Music is an important part of Aldbury Morris as the side includes many fine folk musicians and singers so dancing is always followed by music in the pub.
Over the years, Aldbury Morris Men have appeared in a number of films and TV programmes, such as an episode of A League of Their Own, where they provided a Morris response to the All Blacks’ rugby Haka!
Dancing with Aldbury Morris Men is a fun and friendly way of getting your aerobic exercise (balanced by a certain amount of beer) and welcomes all to join.
You can find out more by visiting the website www.aldburymorris.co.uk or emailing bagman@aldburymorris.co.uk.
New Moon Morris is based in Ivinghoe. Find out more at www.newmoonmorris.co.uk.