Sticks and swords, clogs and rappers - The various forms of dance

Cotswold

In England, the Morris has survived in a number of forms. The dances involving handkerchiefs or sticks which make up most of Greensleeves' repertoire were collected from the villages of the Cotswolds and the West Midlands. They are performed by a 'side' of six or eight men, a musician and often a 'fool' or other character. The dancers wear bells on their shins which jingle to emphasise the complex steps and capers of the dance, and they flourish either handkerchiefs or stout sticks.

The traditional village sides took their dancing seriously - it was a considerable honour to be a member of the side, and they practised hard during the weeks before their major performance, which usually took place at Whitsun. There are subtle but significant variations between the styles and figures collected from different villages. As a living tradition, the Morris evolved through individual teams refining and altering their own dances, at the same time being quite happy to borrow and adapt movements and tunes from neighbouring sides.

Sword

In the North East, the Morris takes the form of sword dances involving from five to eight men. In the Yorkshire version, known as Longsword, they each hold a stiff, usually metal 'sword' with a handle at one end. On Tyneside the swords are flexible, have a handle at each end and are know as 'rappers'.

Both Longsword and Rapper dances involve intricate, circling movements during which the swords make and unmake various patterns, usually culminating in the 'lock' or 'knut' which is held aloft by the side's captain. To help gather an audience many start with a calling-on song in which the captain announces the swordsmen one by one, praising their fighting abilities in highly colourful terms. Sometimes the team includes a Betty - a man dressed as a woman - who after various antics joins in the dances but is 'killed' by the swords, only to rise again moments later. We may suppose that this symbolises the death and rebirth of the year, and indeed, many sword dances are associated with the New Year.

Clog

In the North West, Morris evolved into a dance with men wearing clogs. Clog Morris is associated with Rushcart processionals; the annual ceremonies in which fresh supplies of rushes were brought to be laid on the floor of the church. Contrary to the impression given in a well-known cartoon strip, this form of clog dancing is not usually competitive, although like all good Morris men, the dancers take fierce pride in the high standard of their performance. Sides can consist of almost any number of men, in multiples of four, who carry 'slings' of cotton, 'nuts' of wood or short sticks. But the excitement of North West Morris is generated by the strong stepping in iron-shod wooden clogs. Indeed, such is the 'mighty sound of clog on cobble' that the instruments which suffice for Cotswold or sword dances need to be augmented in clog Morris. A bass drum is often added, and some North West sides make do with nothing less than an entire brass band!

Other Forms

Dances and ceremonies similar to those described have been found elsewhere in England and abroad. They are also known from Derbyshire, Staffordshire (including the mystical Abbots Bromley Horn Dance), the Welsh border Counties and the West Country - where such survivals as the Helston Furry Dance and the Padstow Hobby Horse have strong links with the Morris. Perhaps at one time every town and village had its own ritual dance; if so the vast majority are now lost forever. Indeed, but for the activities of one man, many if not all of our traditional English dances would have followed them into oblivion. (See Cecil Sharp)