A bit about Border
In the Border tradition the face was often blackened with soot or burnt wood as a form of disguise and is thought to have been used from the 17th century, if not earlier. Those performing the dances were usually agricultural or building labourers supplementing their income by dancing and begging during the winter when work was scarce. The blackened faces meant that the dancers would not be recognised if they were seen. This would have been discouraged by both the gentry and the Church who would be unable to exert their usual control over the life and activities of their tenants or congregation. In some counties you were not considered a Morris Dancer unless you had a black face.
We now use a mix of red, green and black to disguise our faces.
Today the Border Morris tradition has gained in popularity and the styles of performance vary from the purely traditional through to totally new interpretations. The Border style is less complicated than its Cotswold Morris neighbour but makes up for this in vigour of performance. Like all Morris it should be fun to be involved with and a chance to follow in the dance steps of past generations.
In the Border tradition the face was often blackened with soot or burnt wood as a form of disguise and is thought to have been used from the 17th century, if not earlier. Those performing the dances were usually agricultural or building labourers supplementing their income by dancing and begging during the winter when work was scarce. The blackened faces meant that the dancers would not be recognised if they were seen. This would have been discouraged by both the gentry and the Church who would be unable to exert their usual control over the life and activities of their tenants or congregation. In some counties you were not considered a Morris Dancer unless you had a black face.
We now use a mix of red, green and black to disguise our faces.
Today the Border Morris tradition has gained in popularity and the styles of performance vary from the purely traditional through to totally new interpretations. The Border style is less complicated than its Cotswold Morris neighbour but makes up for this in vigour of performance. Like all Morris it should be fun to be involved with and a chance to follow in the dance steps of past generations.
