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morris dance
morris dance or morrice dance, rustic dance of the north of England that had its origin in country festivals, such as those of May Day and Whitsunday. Reference to it in English literature is made as early as the 15th cent. The main dancers were called Robin Hood, Maid Marian, the hobbyhorse, and the bavian, or fool. They were accompanied by a piper or taborer. An ambulatory dance, it was often performed from one village to another by the main dancers and six other dancers, three in a row. The morris dance was a sword dance in many vicinities.
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"morris dance." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "morris dance." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-morrisda.html "morris dance." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-morrisda.html |
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morris dance
morris dance a lively traditional English dance performed out of doors by groups known as ‘sides’. Dancers wear a distinctive costume that is mainly black and white and has small bells attached, and often carry handkerchiefs or sticks. At least one of the dancers is likely to represent a symbolic or legendary figure, as the fool, hobby horse, or Maid Marian.
The phrase is recorded from late Middle English; morris comes from a variant of Moorish, but the association with the Moors remains unexplained. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "morris dance." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "morris dance." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-morrisdance.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "morris dance." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-morrisdance.html |
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morris dance
morris dance, a series of folk-dance pageants, performed at various seasons of the year since the 15th cent. at least, and found in many places throughout England. The most important recurrent subjects are the characters of the Robin Hood legends in the Spring play (especially Friar Tuck and Maid Marian, who often appears as Queen of the May), ‘harvest home’, dances in the autumn, and year-ending plays for Christmas such as the Revesby Play.
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Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "morris dance." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "morris dance." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-morrisdance.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "morris dance." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-morrisdance.html |
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