Shropshire Morris dancers benefit from surge in interest
It's as English as afternoon tea - and now Morris dancing is kicking off it's old-fashioned image with a surge in the number of people picking up their hankies and bells to join in.
Dancers have graced summer fairs and festivals for centuries but the number of "sides" - the traditional name for Morris groups - declined dramatically from the 1980s onwards as the pastime gained a reputation for being old-fashioned and dominated by elderly men.
But new figures from the Joint Morris Organisation shows that the number of sides has surged in the past year, from 726 to 781, with some groups unable to keep up with demand for them to appear at events.
And the national picture is reflected in Shropshire, with the county's three groups going from strength to strength.
Pamela Sheldon, from the Ironmen and Severn Gilders in Telford, said: "We have certainly had a surge of interest from women and our numbers now are very well up.
"We have around 20 on the books at the moment although not all dance out at any one time. They are very enthusiastic.
"Our men's side is also very healthy and we are able to fulfil most of the invitations we have to dance.
"The number of younger members has increased, in addition.
"Last Saturday saw us at Newport where we supported St George in slaying the dragon, and we are hosting a meeting of black-face Morris sides on Sunday in Ironbridge - 10 sides in total.
"The following weekend sees us at Upton-on-Severn for their folk festival so we are very busy."
Shrewsbury's Morris dancers are split into three groups - The Shrewsbury Lasses, The Bull & Pump Morris Men and Shrewsbury Clog.
They practice on Thursday evenings at Sundorne School and Sports College from 7.15pm-8pm (clog) and 8pm– 10pm (Morris).
In Telford, the Ironmen and Severn Gilders practice at the new Phoenix Academy in Duce Drive, Dawley, on Mondays from 8-10pm.
And in South Shropshire, the Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden's Tuppenny Dish practice on Tuesdays from 8pm-10pm, either at the Three Tuns in Bishop's Castle or at Hightown Community Room in Clun.
The origins of Morris dancing are not clear, with some believing the dances are pre-Christian fertility rites and others linking them to French and Spanish dances of the 15th and 16th centuries.
It enjoyed a renaissance early in the 20th century when Cecil Sharp published the The Country Dance Book, describing some of the traditional Morris routines, and there was another spike in the 1960s when some groups started to allow women to take part.
Modernisations in recent years include updating some of the traditional clothing and using more modern music to accompany dances.
For more information about Morris dancing in Shropshire visit www.shrewsburymorris.co.uk, www.ironmenandseverngilders.org or www.shropshirebedlams.co.uk
