How the Morris men danced back into fashion

As these pictures show, its essential character has changed hardly at all through the years, yet its origins remain obscure.

Some say the name derives from Moorish dances that were fashionable in the 15th century or from the Flemish mooriske danse; others believe it to be is a corruption of Latin. But what does appear clear is that despite its long history it had been almost forgotten until the turn of the last century.

That was when the cultural historian Cecil Sharp began appropriating tunes and customs as part of a revival of English folk songs. Within a few decades, Morris “sides” were once more a familiar if somewhat curious sight in villages across the land.

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