Doug Freeman
For this year's Hereburgh discussion, I would like to explore with your help what makes a good, bad, or ugly Morris display? You will be pleased to know, or maybe not, that it is not a scrutiny of the magnificent Sompting Morris’ 2002 calendar, but instead a serious and thought provoking analysis of Morris dance outs.
My main assumption is that our Wednesday night practice is not just for exercise, gossip, and the occasional glass of beer. We are there to practice Morris so that we can give the best possible performance when we dance out.
The rest of this paper poses a few questions to start the debate, and please feel free to contribute your own ideas. As you are a shy bunch, I have over the past year discretely tried these questions with unsuspecting members of the side, and have précised the answers especially the after lunch quotes.
Fit together maybe, but fudgers never fake it.
As Morris dancers, we all have different dancing backgrounds, skills or lack of, and reasons for joining a Morris Side. It could be that you did ballet or tap in your youth; have an interest in folk music; are looking for another social outlet; need some exercise; or just like dressing up and the idea of street entertainment.
There are different approaches to learning a new dance or tradition, for example; concentrating on the stepping and hand movements; learning the dance from the same position in set; focusing on the overall shape of the dance. The fudger though has a different mentality, and although is more interested in the overall shape of the dance, only needs to know one thing to crack a new dance; what foot does the dance end on? Given this single piece of information, it is possible to mentally work backwards through the dance, embellishing the boring bits by tricky and wonderfully improvised stepping, and ending up with an individual, unrestrained and vivid dance style.
| Question | Yes | No | Don't know |
|---|---|---|---|
The Squire | |||
| 1. Should the Squire always know how many dances, or consecutive dances, individuals have danced? | We only elect very intelligent Squires so it should be no problem. This was the view of a former Squire. | The foreman supplies the dance list and the Squire selects the most appropriate dance for the audience or event. This was the answer from the current Squire. | I have complete faith in the Squire and I only dance out when it is at a good pub. A quote from an ex member now drinking in Stroud. |
| 2. Should the Squire get advice about the selection of the next dance? | When the squire is dancing, those not dancing could help the Squire by looking at the list and giving some suggestions as to the next dance. This was the helpful suggestion from a dancer who could not be found as he had gone to recharge his glass. | The Squire will have a plan for the display and will take into account the audience and the other sides. It is not a democracy! This may not necessarily be the view of the current Squire. | I have complete faith in the Squire and I am only interested in chatting up the opposite sex in the audience. This is attributed to an ex Squire and Social Secretary who now has teaching and melodeon ambitions. |
| 3. Should the Squire consider appointing a Squire for the day? | It will allow the Squire to enjoy a dance out without having to make any decisions, for example how long is the lunch pub stop? That was the view of all the ex Squires. | Each Squire has their own individual style, and we need to allow them to display their natural leadership qualities. This was overheard in a pub at Marsden. | I don’t care who buys the round, but can they please do it soon. This was a contribution from the free transfer from Sompting. |
The Audience | |||
| 4. Does the audience appreciate it when the Squire announces a dance? | The audience is interested in learning about Morris traditions, in particular the names and origins of the dances. This was from a member who enjoyed and survived the late night discussions at a Roy Domett workshop. | The audience is only interested in the dancing, and anyway the rest of the side will be chatting so the Squire will not be heard. This of course refers to other Morris sides and not Hereburgh? | I am surprised and happy whenever we have an audience. Now there is a realist. |
| 5. Does the audience expect some fooling or joking? | The dancing alone will not keep the audience interested. If they don’t appreciate our fooling then they can only be other Morris dancers. This was from somebody who had the sense to got to bed early at a Roy Domett workshop. | . It distracts from the display, and enforces the idea of drunken or silly people who just like dressing up and can’t even dance. It is not as if we are a Border Side who have the excuse of getting bored with the stepping. A chance remark from an ex member. | . It only works if it looks spontaneous, and not part of the routine. The best fooling or joking is when you turn a mistake into something that can be shared with and enjoyed by the audience. Sorry I started getting too serious, and retract all that. Thanks Kerry. |
| 6. Is the audience there to be entertained? | Even the most introverted of Morris dancers needs an audience. I remember a member of another Morris side announcing that he would play his melodeon to any audience, even to a fridge light. Now there is an idea Pete. | They are privileged to see traditional English Morris dancing. This member has now put in a transfer request to a neighbouring Cotswold side. | What audience, they all leave when we get out the collecting tin. We obviously need to send our bagman on a negotiating skills course. |
The Side | |||
| 7. Should the side have a say in the dance out arrangements? | We are intelligent people with good ideas that must be listened to. A contribution from one of our teachers. | It is the Squires job to cock things up. A quote from a former Squire in a lucid liquid moment. | I never have an opinion and even if I did nobody would listen to me. Can’t remember who said that. |
| 8. Should the side mix with other Morris sides? | It is a social occasion, and the best dance outs are when you make new friends in other sides. There is nothing better than mixing and matching with another side to perform a dance or play tunes. Overheard from an early candidate for our next Squire. | will probably never see them again, and so it is better to catch up on the side gossip. I must have heard this from a dancer in another side? | I will if they talk to me first. One of the many extroverts in our side. |
| 9. Should the side create a rapport with the audience? | Try and engage the audience in conversation, answer their questions, and pose for their photos. Alan is a shining example and ambassador for the side. An genuine observation from the Landlord of Fergie’s Pub in Ballyshannon as he counted his takings | Except when collecting. Our bagman again. | I may if they talk to me first. Every side has an introvert. |
Fudge on.
[2nd March 2002]