Cotswold Morris and the Morris Ring

Although there are many regional styles of dance referred to in general terms as “morris” the Cotswold Morris refers to the handkerchief, stick and hand-clapping dances of Southern and Midland England. Many of the villages in this area had their own traditions and whilst the dances make look similar each village had their own method of stepping and hand movements. As with many traditions, Morris dances almost died out during the Nineteenth Century with the great changes from the industrial revolution and the movement of people across town and county borders. On Boxing Day, 1899, Cecil J. Sharp witnessed a performance by the Headington Quarry Men in Oxfordshire. Sharp, a professional musician and teacher, became fascinated by the Morris and devoted much of his life to the collection, publication and revival of interest in many forms of traditional dance, song and music. Sharp's work and enthusiasm inspired others to continue and extend; a task which continues now, almost a century later. Many of the most worthwhile traditional activities of England might well have been lost had he, and those who followed his example, not worked so hard to maintain. Without his, and other records, the toll of WW1 on the lives of the villages would almost certainly have meant the loss of the tradition. The Morris Ring came into being in 1934. Few of the old, traditional sides remained active but, thanks to the records, growing numbers of new revival teams emerged during the 1920’s. The Cambridge Morris Men invited five other groups to join them in the forming of a national organization of men‘s dance teams. This became the Morris Ring, and now has over 400 member and associates sides throughout the world. Some five or six times a year the Ring officiates at major meetings which are hosted by a local team, and at which up to ten or more visiting teams gather together and carry out dance tours around the local countryside. Benfieldside have attended many such gatherings in the past. In 1993 we we hosted the 251st Morris Ring Meeting, and then the ARM (general meeting) 3 years later. To celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2003 we again hosted a Ring Meeting For more information on the Morris Ring contact RingBagman@themorrisring.org