Welcome to the Offley Morris men Web Site, On it is information about the tradition of Morris dancing and who you can contact if you are interested.
When we are dancing in summer at fetes and pubs we are often asked questions about Morris Dancing such as:
What is Morris Dancing?
How did it start?
Where does it come from?
Why are we called The Offley Morris Men?
and of course: Which one i s called Morris?
The answer to some of these questions is "we don't know" but we can make educated guesses... others we can answer.
Morris Dancing (more commonly referred to as The Morris) is England's traditional dance. Records show that it was danced in the fifteenth century but no-one knows exactly when it first started. Like many traditions, it has been passed down from one generation to the next.
It is not really known where the word Morris originates but it has been suggested that it could be derived from the "Moorish", reflecting the habit of some dancers of blacking their faces, a practice which can still be seen in some sides today.
Most of the dances performed by Offley come from the Cotswolds where they have survived untouched by the Industrial Revolution.
They were discovered by Cecil Sharp on Boxing Day morning 1899 in the village of Headington near Oxford. He noted down the steps and music and published them so future generations could benefit from seeing the traditional dances of England.
Each village had their own specific style and the dances of today are named after these villages.
To the man in the street (or pub!) they probably look all alike but there are differences, sometimes subtle, which reflect on the village from which the dance originated.
Today, we dance the Morris not just to pass on the tradition but for enjoyment, which has probably been the case throughout history. Morris Dancing and the characters associated with it, namely the fool, the hobby horse, the green man and the Man/Woman character - often referred to as Betty, probably originate from customs which were around in pre-Christian times; many aspects of the Morris have pagan origins.
The dance is an expression of thanksgiving for the return of spring- many Morris sides, including Offley, traditionally dance on May 1st.
Our costumes are representative of the clothes worn by the 17th century folk. Black breeches and white shirts were the countryman's best clothes and so worn on the highdays and holidays. Our baldricks (the cross braces worn over our shirts) were once used to carry the sword scabbard and each side has its own particular pattern and colours. Good news- we don't carry swords these days. The ringing bells are said to frighten evil spirits- which is why bells are rung at weddings! The waving of handkerchiefs and the playing of music celebrate the new growth.
The Offley Morris Men were founded in 1955 in the village of Offley, near Hitchin,in Hertfordshire, by a number of young men who lived there. Today, none of the members of the side actually lives in the village but come from the surrounding villages and towns such as Letchworth, Hitchin and Stevenage. We can be seen dancing outside local Pubs and a number of fetes and other venues from May Day to Mid September.
As long as you know your arms from you feet and don't mind a small drink now and then you can come and have a go!
For more information call: Squire: Albert Openshaw, Stevenage, England (01438) 368455
Or the Bagman: Mike Pike, Letchworth, England (01462) 678375
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