What are our plans for Morris dancing at Folk Weekend Oxford?
There will be Morris!!!!!
Morris sides, both local and further afield are now busy filming from home, recording music, planning for al-fresco socially-distanced dancing once things free up a bit. Over FWO 2021 there will be scheduled releasing of numerous dance videos sent to us by morris sides who want to be involved this year. This will include a massed Princess Royal from dancers and sides all over! If you want to be involved and know more information, email Rachel on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The schedule, and how to access it, will be published in the next few weeks.
Do not panic - Morris sides WILL return to the streets of Oxford for Folk Weekend Oxford 2022 (fingers crossed)
In more normal times ........Wherever you are in Oxford, you’ll never be far from a morris team!
Our local tradition is Cotswold Morris; many of the villages in the Cotswolds have their own style of dance. You'll see dancers waving hankies, and wearing baldricks, waistcoat or rosettes over a shirt, and bells around their knees.
North West Morris is from the villages and towns of Lancashire and Cheshire; the mill workers would come out in their clogs and dance in the streets. The dance style was commonly used in processions, many of the dances have been adapted for to be stationary as well as new ones written.
Border Morris is from the counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. Face paint or masks are often used as a disguise, and the kit usually consists of tatters dangling from a jacket, and a lavishly decorated hat!
Rapper Sword Dancing originates from the mining villages of Northumberland and County Durham; 5 people dance linked using double handed flexible swords, weaving different figures for display.
Clog Step dancing grew out of the industrial areas of Great Britain, with the miners and other labours dancing solo in clogs on the spot, often having competitions as well as performing for pleasure.
For more information about Morris dancing in Oxford please have a look at the Folk in Oxford website, or see their calendar for information on where you can see dancers during the summer season.