The Histories of Morris in Britain

Morris dance has been an enduring feature of British culture for more than six centuries, and to celebrate, EFDSS is hosting a two day conference of presentations, posters, and dance, exploring morris dance’s evolution across time until the present day.

Organised by The Historical Dance Society in partnership with English Folk Dance and Song Society. The weekend will feature papers and poster presentations from scholars and practitioners in the field. 

Saturday 25th March 2017, 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 26th March 2017, 10am - 4pm

Lunch and refreshments included

Ticket holders get reduced entry to the Saturday evening ceilidh "Ceilidh for Morris Dance", featuring The Whole Hanniken and caller Andrew Swaine.

Saturday Programme

Women in Morris
This Girl Can Morris Dance: Girls’ Carnival Morris Dancing and the Politics of Participation / Lucy Wright
The Women’s Morris Federation – from start to finish / Val Parker
What to Dance? What to Wear? The Repertoire and Costume of Morris Women in the 1970s / Sally Wearing

Morris at Court
Rank Outsider or an Outsider of Rank? Mr Isaac’s Morris Dance / Jennifer Thorp
Morris and Masque at the Jacobean Court / Anne Daye

The Early Revival
Morris Tunes Collected by James Madison Carpenter / Elaine Bradtke
“Pilgrimages to Holy Places”: The Travelling Morrice, 1922-1939 / Matt Simons
“I Ring for the General Dance”: Morris and Englishness in the Work of Conrad Noel / Katie Palmer Heathman

Material Culture
Why Do Morris Dancers Wear White? / Chloe Metcalfe
Materialising Morris Dancing: Tangible Aspects of an Intangible Heritage / David Petts

Sunday Programme

The History of History
Roy Dommett : His Influence on the “Morris” World, Past, Present and Future / John Lewis, Beth Neil, & Jerry West
"How To Approach Reading 'The History of Morris Dancing' / John Forrest

The Later Revival
Merrie England, May Day and More: Morris Dances in Cumbria in the Early Twentieth Century / Sue Allan
Consequences of Bringing North West Morris to the South East England : the Chantonbury Ring effect / Sean Goddard & Ed Bassford
A Different Sort of Revival: the Life and Times of the Manley Morris Dancers / Derek Schofield

The Morris Dark Ages
A Comparison of Coconut Dances in Lancashire, Mallorca, Provence & on the 19th Century Stage with Particular Reference to the Tune Known as Rochdale Coconut Dance / Peter Bearon
‘Time to Ring Some Changes’: Bell Ringing and the Decline of Morris Dancing in the Earlier Eighteenth Century / Jameson Wooders
Morris Dancers in the Political and Civic Process / Michael Heaney

Read the proceedings

Supported by The Morris Ring, The Morris Federation and Open Morris.