Dance Merrie England

York's annual festival of traditional English folk dancing got under way today with a flamboyant display of the various Morris dance traditions.

Morris dancing de-mystified. There are a number of Morris dance styles that have evolved from regional traditions. Probably the most commonly known is 'Cotswold' this is the most commonly practiced style and the style most people will be familiar with. Other styles include Border Morris from the English and Welsh marches. This is recognised by the blacked out faces of the participants. Tradition has it that this style was practices as a 'job on the side' by itinerant agricultural workers who did want to get recognised by employers when they were 'moonlighting' to augment their meagre wages.

North West Clog hails from the mill towns of Lancashire and is an urban style practiced in the north west of England and emanates from the era of the industrial revolution.

Other styles include 'Molly dancing' primarily a southern English tradition very little is known of its orgins.

Rapper dancing involves the use of 'Rapper' swords which are acutally agricultural tools.

This year York was particularly pleased to welcome an American tradition from the Appalachian mountains.

York's annual festival of traditional English folk dancing got under way today with a flamboyant display of the various Morris dance traditions.

Morris dancing de-mystified. There are a number of Morris dance styles that have evolved from regional traditions. Probably the most commonly known is 'Cotswold' this is the most commonly practiced style and the style most people will be familiar with. Other styles include Border Morris from the English and Welsh marches. This is recognised by the blacked out faces of the participants. Tradition has it that this style was practices as a 'job on the side' by itinerant agricultural workers who did want to get recognised by employers when they were 'moonlighting' to augment their meagre wages.

North West Clog hails from the mill towns of Lancashire and is an urban style practiced in the north west of England and emanates from the era of the industrial revolution.

Other styles include 'Molly dancing' primarily a southern English tradition very little is known of its orgins.

Rapper dancing involves the use of 'Rapper' swords which are acutally agricultural tools.

This year York was particularly pleased to welcome an American tradition from the Appalachian mountains.

York's annual festival of traditional English folk dancing got under way today with a flamboyant display of the various Morris dance traditions.

Morris dancing de-mystified. There are a number of Morris dance styles that have evolved from regional traditions. Probably the most commonly known is 'Cotswold' this is the most commonly practiced style and the style most people will be familiar with. Other styles include Border Morris from the English and Welsh marches. This is recognised by the blacked out faces of the participants. Tradition has it that this style was practices as a 'job on the side' by itinerant agricultural workers who did want to get recognised by employers when they were 'moonlighting' to augment their meagre wages.

North West Clog hails from the mill towns of Lancashire and is an urban style practiced in the north west of England and emanates from the era of the industrial revolution.

Other styles include 'Molly dancing' primarily a southern English tradition very little is known of its orgins.

Rapper dancing involves the use of 'Rapper' swords which are acutally agricultural tools.

This year York was particularly pleased to welcome an American tradition from the Appalachian mountains.

York's annual festival of traditional English folk dancing got under way today with a flamboyant display of the various Morris dance traditions.

Morris dancing de-mystified. There are a number of Morris dance styles that have evolved from regional traditions. Probably the most commonly known is 'Cotswold' this is the most commonly practiced style and the style most people will be familiar with. Other styles include Border Morris from the English and Welsh marches. This is recognised by the blacked out faces of the participants. Tradition has it that this style was practices as a 'job on the side' by itinerant agricultural workers who did want to get recognised by employers when they were 'moonlighting' to augment their meagre wages.

North West Clog hails from the mill towns of Lancashire and is an urban style practiced in the north west of England and emanates from the era of the industrial revolution.

Other styles include 'Molly dancing' primarily a southern English tradition very little is known of its orgins.

Rapper dancing involves the use of 'Rapper' swords which are acutally agricultural tools.

This year York was particularly pleased to welcome an American tradition from the Appalachian mountains.

York's annual festival of traditional English folk dancing got under way today with a flamboyant display of the various Morris dance traditions.

Morris dancing de-mystified. There are a number of Morris dance styles that have evolved from regional traditions. Probably the most commonly known is 'Cotswold' this is the most commonly practiced style and the style most people will be familiar with. Other styles include Border Morris from the English and Welsh marches. This is recognised by the blacked out faces of the participants. Tradition has it that this style was practices as a 'job on the side' by itinerant agricultural workers who did want to get recognised by employers when they were 'moonlighting' to augment their meagre wages.

North West Clog hails from the mill towns of Lancashire and is an urban style practiced in the north west of England and emanates from the era of the industrial revolution.

Other styles include 'Molly dancing' primarily a southern English tradition very little is known of its orgins.

Rapper dancing involves the use of 'Rapper' swords which are acutally agricultural tools.

This year York was particularly pleased to welcome an American tradition from the Appalachian mountains.