Morris dancers fling into tour
A group of 60 people from all over the country are Morris dancing their way through South Canterbury.
The New Zealand Morris Dancing Tour, held annually, is taking place in South Canterbury for the first time. This year’s tour began in Winchester on Thursday, and wraps up tomorrow.
Geraldine Morris Dancing side member Rhys Taylor said it had been a thoroughly entertaining time.
The style of dance dates back to the 15th century, involves stepping, skipping, huffing and puffing. Traditionally dancers painted their faces black, but this has been phased out due to the racist connotations associated with the practice.
‘‘Morris dancers are generally pretty independent types, so it’s a bit like herding cats. It’s viewed as a bit of an eccentric hobby, but it’s part of a grand English tradition,’’ Taylor said.
The dancers have come from as far away as Auckland. There have also been groups from Christchurch, Nelson, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.
‘‘It’s great company. The energy has been great, and we’ve had a lot of people come up to us and ask what we’re doing.’’
He said in order to be a good Morris dancer, you needed to have a good sense of rhythm and be physically fit.
‘‘The great thing about Morris dancing is that it’s not a competition. Everyone is learning, and everyone helps out each other. Some people like the musical aspect: we’ve got mouth organists, percussionists, fiddle players and accordion players.
‘‘But it’s open to anyone, we’ve had crowds of interested people wherever we go. You also need to have a good sense of humour.’’
Taylor said several people approached them in Timaru, particularly when they danced at the Caroline Bay Carnival site. ‘‘People are often curious about it. ‘‘Some people know the history of it, but others seem to enjoy the spectacle of it. You get to wear all sorts of costumes, and carry on as you please.’’
The Fiery Peak Geraldine club has been going for nearly eight years, according to founding member Michelle Brown.
‘‘My son joined the group when he was only six, at the time, he would have been the youngest Morris dancer in the country.
‘‘You never meet an unhappy Morris dancer,’’ Brown said.