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Orange Peel Morris Dancersotherwise known as
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For a printable copy of this photo, click
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Morris is an old English folk dance performance form that includes several types of dance from various regions: Cotswold (south), Northwest, Border, Molly, Longsword, Rapper, and Clog. We do Border Morris from the English/Welsh borders of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, adding in our own inventions, plus those we have gleaned from others. Border Morris was danced generally around Christmas, with dancers performing vigorously using sticks and bells to ward off the evil spirits of the old year. Dancers were often farm labourers augmenting their meagre incomes by ‘bagging’ — passing the hat. High spirits and high energy — “a rude vigour” — typify Border Morris. “A chance to perform in the street, to show off, to be loud or silly or raucous, to violate normal standards of behavior and not only get away with it but be applauded for it.”(from Rich Holmes)

Exultation!
Orange Peel Gallery (including links to various Orange Peel performances)
Orange Peel Tour of England 2004 May
For more information, corrections and comments, please contact the Orange Peel Squire :
Updated: 2008 February 23