Molly dancing was traditionally done by out of work ploughboys in midwinter in the 19th Century. It died out finally in the 1930s, the last dancers seen dancing in Littleport near Ely, in 1934(?).
Molly dancers have been recorded in many parts of the English Midlands and East Anglia.
The only recorded Molly dances come from Comberton and Girton, villages just outside Cambridge, researched by Russel Wortley and Cyril Papworth.
Molly dancing is most associated with Plough Monday, the first Monday after the Twelfth Day of Christmas.
Molly dancing was recreated by the Cambridge Morris Men in the 1950s, and the Morris dance revival of the 70s saw the creation of many new sides.
Modern Molly Dancing demonstrates the clearest distinction between "re-enactment of tradition" and "modern interpretation of tradition" of modern morris dancing. Elaine Bradtke wrote a PhD thesis on the inherent post modernism of the Seven Champions - one of the first and best examples of Modern Molly dance.
