Steps, sets and a chorus – our AGM and Morris dancingThis year's Annual General Meeting has been full of gratitude – to outgoing President Celya for opening our eyes to new possibilities, keeping us on track and setting a wonderful example; to Treasurer Natasha for looking after the finances; to our membership, where everyone has contributed over the year in some way; and to Sally, our new President, who will have the full support and help of our marvellously collaborative Committee.
A round of applause too to Liz, this year's adviser from Middlesex Federation, who oversaw the business of the AGM and organised the vote for President.
AGM business concluded, New Esperance Morris treated us to some Morris dancing history and a chance to learn some steps.
The earliest records of Morris dancing were in a tapestry from 1448, possibly related to courtly dancing, and a stained glass window. The three-hole pipe and tabor we see are designed to be played at the same time, New Esperance Morris's pipe a modern carbon fibre version.
Nobody knows why it's called 'Morris'. One theory is that anything strange was referred to as "Moorish". But it caught on. There were local games called 'Olympicks', with prizes, and cachet for being good at dancing. Rail enabled people to travel to competitions. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it went in and out of favour, then between the wars, the Morris Ring was formed. In the early 1970s, a few groups of women formed Morris sides and to perform, they fought to be exempt from the licensing act.
What most people think of as Morris is Cotswold Morris, typically six dancers in a set and quite complicated. In a club, there's a Squire, a Foreman who teaches the dances, a Bagman, a Fool and a Beast – New Esperance Morris, being a London side, has a pigeon.
In the North West there are processional dances, more like clog dancing. The North East has a version with various types of sword dancing, using long and 'wrapper' swords. Wales has Border Morris, whose painted faces have become popular in modern sides. East Anglia has stompy steps and dances in patterns.
But where did women's Morris start? Well, in Victorian England, well-to-do women would spend time doing good works and in 1895, Mary Neal started what became the Espérance club, for seamstresses in King's Cross. They learned folk songs and she approached Cecil Sharp to arrange for folk dancers to visit the club – Cecil Sharp had only collected the songs but Mary Neal considered the dances a national art. She invited more dancers to teach the girls, who went on to teach others, here and in the States. They taught male sides as well, including the Morris dancers in Thaxted.
The New Esperance group was formed in 1973, initially in Edwardian costume, then in trousers, which proved easier to dance in. The modernity of their costume now is a large part of their appeal to younger dancers. They perform from a range of traditions and will write a dance to a tune. An early photo showed dancers processing around a milkmaid's garland on May Day – Islington was a dairy centre and decorated with tools of the trade, it was a mark of pride in the cleanliness of the work. What had started as urban had travelled to the country and come back to London.
We had an opportunity to learn four sets and a chorus of a Morris dance, right down to how to hold a scarf to hang on to it. Much fun was had by all. A big scarf-wave of thanks to New Esperance Morris for giving us such an interesting and active session.
Fancy a go? New Esperance Morris meets on Wednesdays and welcomes new members. Find out more here.
Our monthly coffee and meet up: Friday 23rd May, meet at 10.30-11.00 – Saffi Cafe, 63 Violet Road, E3 3FW
Nearest DLR: Devon’s Road.
