A Morris Dance is a form of folk dance.

There are records mentioning the Morris Dance dating back to 1477, and it is mentioned in Renaissance documents in France, Italy, and Spain. The term then was "moorish dance" and "Moresco", which was gradually corrupted to "Morris Dance". 

In the modern day, it is commonly thought of as a uniquely English activity, although there are around 150 Morris teams in North America.  The dance is also still practiced in Barcelona, Spain, where it is perfomed by girls or women.


History in England

Before the English Civil War, the working peasantry often took part in Morris dances, especially at Whitsun. The Puritan government of Oliver Cromwell, however, supressed Whitsun Ales and other such festivities. When the crown was restored by Charles II, the springtime festivals were restored. In particular, Whitsun Ales came to be celebrated on Whitsunday, as the date coincided with the birthday of Charles II. 

Morris dancing continued in popularity until the Industrial revolution and its accompanying drastic social change. 

Today, there are three predominant styles of Morris Dancing:


  • Cotswold Morris

    • Dances from the English Cotswolds, normally danced with handkerchiefs or sticks to embellish the hand movements

  • North West Morris 

    • More military in style and often processional.  Clogs are a characteristic feature of this style of dance

  • Border Morris

    • From the English/Welsh border.  A free-flowing, informal style, normally danced with blackened faces and wearing rag coats
      

Other forms include Molly dance from Cambridgeshire, associated with Plough Monday. A parodic form danced in work boots and with at least one Molly man dressed as a woman.

There is also Hoodening which comes from East Kent.