Thanks for your kind comments. I have another two song and dances performed by this fantastic folk group. Please check them out on my channel. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Love it! Viva Britannia and Cymru. Long may you and your traditions live - it's so nice to see the girls dancing too (used to be just men way back when)
Thanks for you kind comments. I was so glad to have watched and filmed this folk group. They were breathtaking as far as I’m concerned. I enjoyed every song and dance they performed. So glad I can share it with you all on UA-cam
The Beltane Border Morris had an effect on one spectator. At 0:27 seconds she is seen above the branch of Ladbrokes shutting her window and drawing her blinds!
This IS unbelievable l have seen some morris dancing before but this something else. I have just seen their video for the first time tonight and it is just so wonderful to watch. The music is so toe tapping to listen to and the dancers is so different from the other morris dancer’s l have there something slightly Gothic about the dancers and the energy that flows from them just grabs you and makes you want to see more. I will definitely be looking out for more of their videos to watch.
So glad you enjoyed the dance. I have another two dances on my channel. Please go to my channel list and watch them both. I’m sure you will enjoy them both just as much as the first one you watched. Thanks for the lovely comments.
I'm from the United States and first saw Morris Dancers during my first visit to England. I've been in love with this tradition ever since. Great video, great band, and of course, great dancers!
In continental Europe, most traditional dancing and music are only a few centuries young, and must be carefully kept up to best ability. Morris dates back to pre-christian days, this tradition has solid roots, which allows it to go with the times, being actual and historic at the same time. Envy! And congrats to these musicians and dancers for their enthusiasm and dedication.
Morris dancers don’t really do tours some do. Your best bet is trying to find a social media of theirs either Instagram or Facebook as they usually post when and where their performing.
I'm intrigued by this dance. Can someone explain to me what do the dancers' costumes represent? I tried goggling the info and also ChatGPT and found no believable info. They say that the Bektane Dance is done about a pole (which is obviously not true) and it is a fertility ritual. Anybody?
This is border morris, which I like to call the punk rock of morris dancing. Dark colours, painted faces, hats with feathers, ragged clothes, and dances with big, fast movements.
Apart from the use of black for all of the participants, the costumes are very traditional, especially the men's. Traditionally, the dancers would all be men, but for a number of years, women have also participated. The ragged costumes, which in traditional dances would be more likely to be brightly multicoloured, are examples of "guising", a word more familiar as "disguising". The costume and the black face were, supposedly, to hide the identity of the dancer. Legend says that the young Henry VIII would take part in guising dances. If only one dancer blackened their face, they represented the Moor. Morris dances come in a number of forms. They are probably pre-Christian. The idea was to attract the attention of the gods, and guising meant that the gods were less likely to identify the individual dancers. Dances could be to celebrate the return of Spring, to persuade the gods to send a good harvest, to ensure the return of the sun after the Autumn Equinox, and so on. Dancers might dress in straw outfits to represent bears, or in black in the 19th century onwards to represent a chimney sweep, or as females to represent the Earth Goddess. There are many traditional costumes from different parts of the country. Dancers might wear bells to "entertain" the gods, or hit sticks, as here, to attract the gods' attention. The use of feathers, green leaves, or flowers was to link the dancers with nature. On a side note, traditionally, the music would be played on whatever instruments people had, drums, flutes, fiddles, and so on. Today, it's more likely that a person would play a guitar, and dance troupes are including these more.
@@PLuMUK54 A lot of strange notions about morris dancing there. Morris dancing began as a 14th century royal court entertainment - it is not 'pre-Christian' and wasn't danced to 'attract the attention of the gods'. It was never danced as some kind of fertility rite or to increase the harvest - the village dancers used to dance for money. Straw bears and morris dancing are quite separate traditions. Guising and morris dancing are quite separate traditions Outside of some of the very early court dances blacking up only occurs following the popularity of the minstrel troupes that toured England in the early 19th century. Dancers historically wore bells because they made a pleasant rhythmic noise to accompany the dance. Dancers hit sticks together to make a loud rythmic noise, Neither of the above were intended to 'entertain' or 'attract the attention of the gods' - simply because the dance is not 'pagan'.
Not sure what you mean by your comment. I think everyone enjoyed the performance and all had a great time at the Shanty Festival. Thanks for watching my Channel and taking the time to comment.
I note that in this video these dancers don't have the distinctive black faces which goes with the costume seen on early videos. I think it is absolutely shameful that English folk traditions have been allowed to be marred by a bonkers interpretation of why the paint was applied by those who don't care anything about those traditions.
Sorry that you feel that way. I have never seen them before and really enjoyed the song and performance they put on. Thanks for your comments and I hope you enjoy watching may be some other things I have on my channel.
Oh, if only I could dance! (It's great that they toned down the blackface. I know it traditionally represents the Moorish influence, but the dance has meaning without it.)
The faux outrage about the 'blackface' was ridiculous. It's also not really about the supposedly Moorish origins of the dance, about which there is still some debate. There is a full explanation of the reason for it on Beltane's website.
@@juvenalsdad4175 Unfortunately, all the evidence points to blacking up only becoming popular in morris dancing following the American minstrel tours of England in the early 19th century. The theories that it had something to do with miners, chimney sweeps, or disguises isn't born out by any evidence.
1:29 @@juvenalsdad4175 Beltane's history of blacking up is totally inaccurate. As pointed out there is little if any evidence of black face paint being used before the 19th century.
Saturn is a planet...and stop it with all this 'Satanic Panic' rubbish...this is all coming from American right-wing Christianity. The world is going mad!
@@TheLaughingCavalier01 The modern revival version of Border morris that is. Even the name Border Morris is modern as it first appears in the early 1960's - prior to that it was the West Midlands Morris.
They're a dance troupe, you goober. And what the fuck does that have to do with leaving the European Union? Morris Dancing is part of European culture. There are Morris groups all over Europe in a myriad of styles. Do some research & stop being a provincial git.
@@Violetmoon751Don't know what American has to do with it but I'm American and digging these videos . I came across it a couple days ago and I can't stop watching . I'm totally intrigued about the history .
Beltane Border Morris must be the most enthusiastic, lively and invigorating Morris troupe anywhere. More of the same, please!
Thanks for your kind comments. I have another two song and dances performed by this fantastic folk group. Please check them out on my channel. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
I love this!
Such an awesome aerobic routine, I got tired and broke some sweat watching those guys, and the costumes/makeup add so much drama, just awesome!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love it! Viva Britannia and Cymru. Long may you and your traditions live - it's so nice to see the girls dancing too (used to be just men way back when)
Glad you enjoyed it!
As a retired Morris Dancer of both Cotswold and Border, I must say that was fantastic.
Thanks for you kind comments. I was so glad to have watched and filmed this folk group. They were breathtaking as far as I’m concerned. I enjoyed every song and dance they performed. So glad I can share it with you all on UA-cam
The Beltane Border Morris had an effect on one spectator. At 0:27 seconds she is seen above the branch of Ladbrokes shutting her window and drawing her blinds!
I love the Gothy vibe with this style of Morris - much better than the hanky waving!
Mae'n nhw'n edrych fel bran. They look like crows. Fantastic!
This IS unbelievable l have seen some morris dancing before but this something else. I have just seen their video for the first time tonight and it is just so wonderful to watch. The music is so toe tapping to listen to and the dancers is so different from the other morris dancer’s l have there something slightly Gothic about the dancers and the energy that flows from them just grabs you and makes you want to see more. I will definitely be looking out for more of their videos to watch.
So glad you enjoyed the dance. I have another two dances on my channel. Please go to my channel list and watch them both. I’m sure you will enjoy them both just as much as the first one you watched. Thanks for the lovely comments.
YES…that,s how I would like to Morris Dance😀
So fun! Great energy !
Black Brit here. L❤ving this.😅
I'm from the United States and first saw Morris Dancers during my first visit to England. I've been in love with this tradition ever since. Great video, great band, and of course, great dancers!
The music, the dance, the seeming 'tude of defiance of the dancers. . .I LOVE IT! The music makes me think of Runar Karlsson and Antii Martikainen.
Enjoyed this, well presented nice music and dancing
Glad you enjoyed it
Absolutely brilliant ❤
Ex Pat in NZ ,You have kept tradition alive Thank you for a fantastic show of English talent
Wow, thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. Check out the other songs and dance from this folk group on my channel. I’m sure you will enjoy them too.
Fantastic
That was great to watch.
Exhilarating!!
Awesome steampunk dance !
fantastic！loved it !
Thank you! Cheers!
Love it!!
I thought this was excellent ...really enjoyed it
A great group. Brilliant stuff
I never got Morris dancing but this is so cool.
In continental Europe, most traditional dancing and music are only a few centuries young, and must be carefully kept up to best ability. Morris dates back to pre-christian days, this tradition has solid roots, which allows it to go with the times, being actual and historic at the same time. Envy! And congrats to these musicians and dancers for their enthusiasm and dedication.
Fantastic, but I miss bells
Rocking!!
Stumbled across these type of videos 2 days ago . Can't stop watching . Very cool indeed
Hitting PAUSE to tell y'all I LOVE this. ❤❤❤❤
Terrific👌👌👍👍
Thank you!
Awesome!
Awesome guys
yous are awesome
I would like to come to a show of yours. How can I? Do you have a tour date available?
Morris dancers don’t really do tours some do. Your best bet is trying to find a social media of theirs either Instagram or Facebook as they usually post when and where their performing.
Totally different from the 1970's Morris dancing.
🎉
And people say England has no culture! :)
Which people?
I'm intrigued by this dance. Can someone explain to me what do the dancers' costumes represent? I tried goggling the info and also ChatGPT and found no believable info. They say that the Bektane Dance is done about a pole (which is obviously not true) and it is a fertility ritual. Anybody?
Google Morris dance, Wikipedia has a nice amount of info
This is border morris, which I like to call the punk rock of morris dancing. Dark colours, painted faces, hats with feathers, ragged clothes, and dances with big, fast movements.
Apart from the use of black for all of the participants, the costumes are very traditional, especially the men's. Traditionally, the dancers would all be men, but for a number of years, women have also participated.
The ragged costumes, which in traditional dances would be more likely to be brightly multicoloured, are examples of "guising", a word more familiar as "disguising". The costume and the black face were, supposedly, to hide the identity of the dancer. Legend says that the young Henry VIII would take part in guising dances. If only one dancer blackened their face, they represented the Moor.
Morris dances come in a number of forms. They are probably pre-Christian. The idea was to attract the attention of the gods, and guising meant that the gods were less likely to identify the individual dancers. Dances could be to celebrate the return of Spring, to persuade the gods to send a good harvest, to ensure the return of the sun after the Autumn Equinox, and so on.
Dancers might dress in straw outfits to represent bears, or in black in the 19th century onwards to represent a chimney sweep, or as females to represent the Earth Goddess. There are many traditional costumes from different parts of the country. Dancers might wear bells to "entertain" the gods, or hit sticks, as here, to attract the gods' attention. The use of feathers, green leaves, or flowers was to link the dancers with nature.
On a side note, traditionally, the music would be played on whatever instruments people had, drums, flutes, fiddles, and so on. Today, it's more likely that a person would play a guitar, and dance troupes are including these more.
@@PLuMUK54
A lot of strange notions about morris dancing there.
Morris dancing began as a 14th century royal court entertainment - it is not 'pre-Christian' and wasn't danced to 'attract the attention of the gods'.
It was never danced as some kind of fertility rite or to increase the harvest - the village dancers used to dance for money.
Straw bears and morris dancing are quite separate traditions.
Guising and morris dancing are quite separate traditions
Outside of some of the very early court dances blacking up only occurs following the popularity of the minstrel troupes that toured England in the early 19th century.
Dancers historically wore bells because they made a pleasant rhythmic noise to accompany the dance.
Dancers hit sticks together to make a loud rythmic noise,
Neither of the above were intended to 'entertain' or 'attract the attention of the gods' - simply because the dance is not 'pagan'.
That kid on the cajon drum should be protecting his hearing being on ear level with so many drumskins
That either scared the evil spirits away, or they were the evil spirits…
Person in the bay window is having none of it...038
Hahaha
What country is this?
England
Devon England United Kingdom
Is the name of this tune The Fairy Queen?
King of the Fairies
Right, but what does it all mean?
If you have to ask that, you don't get it.
It means exactly the same thing as Appalachian Clogging, River Dance or ballet. To quote Homer Simpson "Doh".
Brilliant. Just a shame that he plugged that bass guitar in, and turned it up
A shame that Teignmouth wasn't particularly receptive.
Not sure what you mean by your comment. I think everyone enjoyed the performance and all had a great time at the Shanty Festival. Thanks for watching my Channel and taking the time to comment.
Sorry! The audience looked a little bit unresponsive, but obviously I am olny seeing a little bit of them on the video. So glad everyone enjoyed it!
I note that in this video these dancers don't have the distinctive black faces which goes with the costume seen on early videos. I think it is absolutely shameful that English folk traditions have been allowed to be marred by a bonkers interpretation of why the paint was applied by those who don't care anything about those traditions.
Yep.
Sorry that you feel that way. I have never seen them before and really enjoyed the song and performance they put on. Thanks for your comments and I hope you enjoy watching may be some other things I have on my channel.
Oh, if only I could dance!
(It's great that they toned down the blackface. I know it traditionally represents the Moorish influence, but the dance has meaning without it.)
The faux outrage about the 'blackface' was ridiculous. It's also not really about the supposedly Moorish origins of the dance, about which there is still some debate. There is a full explanation of the reason for it on Beltane's website.
It was originally a traditional representation of the coal miners.
@@juvenalsdad4175
Unfortunately, all the evidence points to blacking up only becoming popular in morris dancing following the American minstrel tours of England in the early 19th century. The theories that it had something to do with miners, chimney sweeps, or disguises isn't born out by any evidence.
@@jsa-z1722
No.
1:29 @@juvenalsdad4175
Beltane's history of blacking up is totally inaccurate.
As pointed out there is little if any evidence of black face paint being used before the 19th century.
Poor things need new clothes. Music sux.
Glad you enjoyed my short video. Thank You for your comments
Must they wear black, it does not sit well with the creed of morris, they look menacing in Saturn's black like he'll angels.
Are you serious?.... 🤦🏻♀️😂
Oh, shut up. They're Goths.
Saturn is a planet...and stop it with all this 'Satanic Panic' rubbish...this is all coming from American right-wing Christianity. The world is going mad!
Literally the point of border morris. Especially Beltane
@@TheLaughingCavalier01
The modern revival version of Border morris that is.
Even the name Border Morris is modern as it first appears in the early 1960's - prior to that it was the West Midlands Morris.
UUUuuhhh ? Are these 'normal' people ??? Good you left the EC !!
I'm delighted we left the EU. That aside, this is Morris at its best.
Not sure what carrying on an ancient tradition has to do with Brexit but ok. 🤷🏻♀️🤔
They're a dance troupe, you goober. And what the fuck does that have to do with leaving the European Union? Morris Dancing is part of European culture. There are Morris groups all over Europe in a myriad of styles. Do some research & stop being a provincial git.
They are Morris Dancers....Are you American? Really ignorent thing to say!
@@Violetmoon751Don't know what American has to do with it but I'm American and digging these videos . I came across it a couple days ago and I can't stop watching . I'm totally intrigued about the history .
Needs more hankies and jingly bells
No. This has more life.
Jingly bells and hankies would lift it to another level. Lots more jingly bells and maybe rainbow hankies@@catherinearangie2311
Hankies are mainly used for Cotswold Morris.
This is Border Morris, which is more rough, more Coal Miner & more "out there".