It's street theatre really! : a history of Cotswold Morris Dancing in the twentieth century
This study investigates the history of Morris Dancing in the twentieth century through written sources detailing the development of the dance, but more importantly, through the oral testimony of some of those dancers who began their dancing careers after the second world war. Three particular questions were identified, firstly concerning the way in which ancient dance forms are generally linked, perhaps incorrectly, with place; secondly, the way in which the part that women played in the development of the dance has been written out of the popular modern view of the Morris; and finally, the part that Morris Dancing has played in the production of an invented myth of English history and English tradition. These, and further questions raised during the interviews, forced the study to take a wider view of the history of the dance. Looking back towards the earliest records became important because of the apparent changes that have affected Morris Dancing throughout the centuries, a dance form that is assumed to have been firmly established as an unchanging ritual, but in fact, it would seem, has always been prepared to follow whatever alterations have been demanded by society. Looking forward also became important,
Garland, Michael
D204 Modern History ; DA Great Britain
It's street theatre really! : a history of Cotswold Morris Dancing in the twentieth century. This study investigates the history of Morris Dancing in the twentieth century through written sources detailing the development of the dance, but more importantly, through the oral testimony of some of those dancers who began their dancing careers after the second world war. Three particular questions were identified, firstly concerning the way in which ancient dance forms are generally linked, perhaps incorrectly, with place; secondly, the way in which the part that women played in the development of the dance has been written out of the popular modern view of the Morris; and finally, the part that Morris Dancing has played in the production of an invented myth of English history and English tradition. These, and further questions raised during the interviews, forced the study to take a wider view of the history of the dance. Looking back towards the earliest records became important because of the apparent changes that have affected Morris Dancing throughout the centuries, a dance form that is assumed to have been firmly established as an unchanging ritual, but in fact, it would seem, has always been prepared to follow whatever alterations have been demanded by society. Looking forward also became important,
street theatre really history morris study_investigate history morris write_source detail development dance importantly oral_testimony begin dance career second_world_war particular question identify firstly concern way ancient dance form generally link perhaps place secondly way part woman play development dance write popular modern view morris finally part morris play production invent myth english history_english tradition question_raise interview force study take_wide view history dance looking back towards early record become_important apparent change_affect morris throughout_century dance form assume firmly_establish ritual fact would_seem always prepare follow whatever alteration demand society looking forward also become_important