Morris Dancing

Eva Strazek and Joan Starkey

"SCENE 12.

CUDDY. — And I'm not saying I've never led Morris practice before, but today was really the first time I've gotten to teach. And basically it just comes down to two basic steps, the first being left-hop, right-hop (and so on) - and the second being a double step: left-right left-hop — right-left right-hop —" [1]

Below you can find a video recreating a Morris Dance from Victorian England (276 years after Elizabeth Sawyer was executed):

0:52 — double step

1:02 — single step

Watch the whole "Steps" and "Step Sequence" sections to put it together.

Note that they're dancing to an accordion, which was not invented until roughly the late 18th c. [2] Cuddy would probably be dancing to a pipe and tabor (a flute and drum instrument played by one person) or some other wind instrument and drum combination. [3]

Some lovely medieval pipe and tabor music:

About Morris Dancing:

The earliest written account of Morris Dancing is from 1448 London. By the Elizabethan era (before the Jacobean era of Witch), Morris Dancing was considered an "ancient dance"[4]. It's safe to say that Cuddy thought of it that way as well. Perhaps he dances Morris because the connection with his culture supplements his falling short as a man.

There were many different kinds of Morris Dancing, and they varied greatly: There were group dances, dances only for two, all-men, some women, with sticks, with swords, around a maypole, traveling, and more. Some were strictly folk dances, but some told stories. In some Morris traditions, there was a Fool and a Beast. The Fool's job was to playfully connect with the audience. The Fool was typically the best dancer of the troupe and danced a solo jig. The Beast was a dancer on a hobbyhorse, who "tormented and teased the audience, especially children"[5]. It's important to note that in The Witch of Edmonton (1621), Cuddy is the clown, who acts foolishly. Perhaps the Cuddy of our play aspires to be the Fool of his troupe.

Morris Costume:

Just as dancing styles varied, so too did costumes. Some troupes wore belts, some x-shaped sashes, some vests. Most Morris costumes had a hat, a white shirt, and bell pads that were worn below the knee. Other ornamentation, such as feathers, ribbons, pins, and other fabric, were essential elements to the celebratory nature of Morris dancing. Below are visual examples of Morris costume, from oldest to now.