The ringing of bells and the resounding clashing of sticks will soon waft through the summer air as the American Travelling Morrice brings its 36th annual Morris dancing tour to the area for the first time in 36 years. The dancers will perform in many area towns during the week of August 21st through the 27th.
The Travelling Morrice consists of Morris men from all over the country, including more than a few dancers of international fame in the field.
All performances are open to the public and free of charge. However, the dancers are quick to point out the time-honored Morris custom of passing the hat, enabling the spectators to participate in the tradition and, as they put it, “partake in the Morris luck”.
While the origins of the Morris dance tradition are lost in history, the centuries-old custom, first noted down in 1458, apparently evolved as a ritual designed to shake off the dark and gloom of winter and celebrate the coming of spring, bringing luck and fertility to participants and audience alike.
Most of the dances are performed by six men at a time, with either sticks or handkerchiefs in hand. The dancers are recognized by their distinctive outfits or “kits”, consisting traditionally of white trousers and shirts set off by multi-colored ribbons, bells and gaily decorated hats. Accompanying each Morris team is at least one musician who performs lively English folk melodies on accordion, concertina, fiddle, or pipe and tabor (drum), as well as a mascot or Fool, who frisks about good-naturedly taunting and baiting the dancers and entertaining the crowd.
Visit http://www.americantravellingmorrice.org/doku.php/home for more information.
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