MORRIS DANCING AMUSING OR ART?
English Folk and Morris dancing some visitors to the UK find either amusing or just plain daft?
I am somewhat a fence sitter on the subject of handkerchief waving or stick beating groups showing off their skills but there is certainly an art to it.
Add in the black part-painted faces, outlandish costumes and to the outside observer and rather like cricket find it rather unfathomable. However, places like Weymouth in Dorset that host folk dance events do certainly help to draw in the large numbers of visitors to see this annual spectacle.
Fun in the sun at the Wessex Folk Festival, Weymouth.
The mystery, movement and music along the pretty harbourside as the various groups of dancers via with each other, in a friendly way, to out-do the previous performers as they take it in turn to perform.
The quayside and town has been bustling with Morris, clog and Appalachian dancers plus numerous folk musicians.
A tradition of Morris dancing in the UK goes back to the 15th century and it later became part of church festivals and different areas of the country developed their own styles.
MORRIS DANCING STICKS OR HANKIES?
Bedlam Morris dancing style using sticks is popular in counties like Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
Bedlam style Morris dancing at Weymouth, Dorset.
The controversial blackface make-up style appears to come from the Welsh borders Hereford, Shropshire and dates back to being a form of disguise where dancers covered their faces with charcoal.
Even part black make-up is still being debated.
These performers hoped not be identified as being part of what was thought of pagan style ritual and dance. Although today many do think it to be possibly racist, so some groups use alternative colours or masks instead to appease. Others from former coal mining areas feel that too much is being made of the make up.
The ‘Green Man’ very traditional.
Wearing colourful torn or rag covered jackets there is no shortage of weird and wonderful costumes on show. Hats with feathers and flower adornment and even the odd steam-punk look too.
Purrfect! colourful make-up.
The Wessex Folk Festival has many different dance groups attending the event and that includes dance styles from the US like Appalachian and also North of England clog dancing too!
Close-up of clogs on show at Weymouth.
Running over two days it is usually held over the first weekends of June each year. There are also two stages at the event for a variety of different singers, the harbourside stage and the nearby stage in the square.
In all over 30 groups appeared from the UK Cornwall, Bristol and London with one folk dance group coming from Estonia.
Typical Estonian folk costumes pictured by me on Khinu Islandin 2018.
This family friendly event takes over one side of the harbour with many food and drink outlets providing extra sustenance and supporting the local pubs and cafes that line the street making sure the large influx of visitors get refreshed in their ring side viewing positions.
Adorned head wear typical zany Brits!
Also, there are many chances to get tuition in the popular musical instruments used at the event, like concertina, guitar, including slide guitar, accordion. They also have a variety of instruments to try out, fiddles, mandolins and banjos.
The Wessex Folk Festival is due to run again next year in 2020, so, get on your dancing shoes or maybe clogs!
