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1448
Earliest written record
Goldsmiths Company in London paid seven shillings to Morris dancers.
Morris dance. (2018). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_dance -
1450
Origins of name
"The name is first recorded in the mid-15th century as Morisk dance, moreys daunce, morisse daunce, i.e. "Moorish dance". The term entered English via Flemish mooriske danse. Comparable terms in other languages are German Moriskentanz (also from the 15th century), French morisques, Croatian moreška, and moresco, moresca or morisca in Italy and Spain."
Morris dance. (2018). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_dance -
Period: 1494 to 1522
Popular at court
Morris Dancing was patronized at court, especially during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, for both seasonal entertainment and processions.
Forrest, John. (1999). Royal Court. The History of Morris Dancing, 1458-1750. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=_qNG_Y88UTUC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=morris+dancing+at+court&source=bl&ots=HUGuwalOi7&sig=OX4Ufld0ifpKWbNtB6ugFkHGQKY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEqOjFkbjZAhVBrVQKHYHAB6cQ6AEIQDAC#v=onepage&q=morris%20dancing%20at%20court&f=false -
William Kempe danced from London to Norwich
Shakespearean actor Wiliam Kempe recorded this activity in his book Nine Daies Wonder.
Will Kemp's Nine Days Wonder. (n.d.) In Collection Items. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/will-kemps-nine-days-wonder-1600
Illustration of William Kempe Morris dancing from London to Norwich in 1600. (2007). Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Will_Kemp_Elizabethan_Clown_Jig.jpg -
The Thames at Richmond, with the Old Royal Palace (painter unknown)
Painting of Morris dancers Thames at Richmond. (2007). Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2067956 -
Period: to
Spread throughout the countryside.
Morris dancing became part of parish folk dancing, and common people danced too, especially during Whitsuntide, although it was suppressed during Walter Cromwell's puritanical government. Morris dance was revived during the reign of Charles II and thrived until the industrial revolution.
Morris dance. (2018). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_dance -
Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
Morris dancing begin gaining in popularity again with these celebrations.
Goddard, Sean. (2004). Morris Tradition. Retrieved from https://themorrisring.org/publications/morris-tradition -
Boxing Day
The Morris revival began when Cecil Sharp became interested while listening to some performers at a friend's house. Eventually he began collecting the dances.
Morris dance. (2018). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_dance -
Women and girls form a group
The Esprance Working Girls Club (London) gave their first performance, thanks to the leadership and coordination of Mary Neal, Emmeline Pethick and Cecil Sharp.
Goddard, Sean. (2004). Morris Tradition. Retrieved from https://themorrisring.org/publications/morris-tradition -
The Morris Ring was founded
Created by a revival of six men's sides (troupes).
Morris Ring. (2018). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Ring -
The Morris Federation was established
Although it began to provide support for sides (troupes) of female dancers, it eventually to dropped any gender restrictions among and within sides.
Our History. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.morrisfed.org.uk/about/our-history/ -
Morris dance in action
Charles, Tony. (Director & Editor). (2012, Sept. 19). Morris dancing traditional medieval English folk-dance 2.MOV. Video retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ8wH17yM6Y -
Morris Census 2017
Morris dancing thrives in England, Wales, Scotland, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Worth, Jack. (2017). Morris Census. Retrieved from https://morriscensus.weebly.com/number-of-dancers.html
Rept0n1x. (2011, Sept. 13). Morris dancing at Port Sunlight. Image retrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Morris_dancing_at_Port_Sunlight.jpg
