Space and place in English Morris dance

Abstract

Morris dancing is one of England’s traditional display dance traditions. Arising from localised practice in the South Midlands, it was revived from a near moribund state in the early 20th century. This paper traces the relationship between place and the Morris tradition. It began as a way of making and contesting place within a very circumscribed spatial area with strong local affiliations. However, through the process of recording, revival and reworking, it has become increasingly disembedded from these literally ‘parochial’ contexts and come to be identified with wider regional and national identities. There is though a counter-narrative to this move towards a national conception of the tradition, with particular places and locations intimately linked with Morris dancing’s history still retaining a mystique as sites of pilgrimage, return and reaffirmation of continuity. This chapter will explore these relationships between place, space and traditional dance.