Our Story
THE KING'S MORRIS was formed in 1978 as a revival side in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Like most modern teams, they perform a Cotswold Men's style of Morris Dancing, featuring jigs and dances mainly from the Bledington, Fieldtown, Bampton, Badby, Bucknell and Adderbury traditions.
The team performs in public from May until September, usually on Friday or Saturday evenings. Displays are normally given outside pubs in North West Norfolk, with the evening often finishing with folk music in the bar. On Bank Holidays, the team presents dancing tours, travelling further afield in Norfolk and performing during the day.
A tradition particularly special to The King's Morris is "Dancing the Dawn Up" on the First of May—a ceremonial dance at 5.20am on the roundabout at Knights Hill (the highest point in the Borough of King's Lynn) to celebrate the coming of Summer and promote fertility in field, flock and mankind.
At mid-day on May Day, The Kings Morris carry the King's Lynn May Garland around the town, starting at the Saturday Market Place—an old Pagan custom revived by the dancers in 1983.
Team Colours & Insignia
THE KING'S MORRIS wear grey top hats, and their white shirts and trousers are adorned with baldrics and bell pads in the team's colours of royal blue and golden yellow. The shields worn on their livery are the ancient coat of arms of King's Lynn and are presented to a dancer when he is considered to be competent.
What is Morris Dancing?
The Origins
English Morris Dancing may be the modern survival of a primitive pre-Christian ceremonial of ritual dance and drama ensuring and celebrating the renewal of Spring. This rite once flourished all over Europe and even today dances similar to the Morris can be seen in parts of France, Spain, Rumania and Portugal.
The origin of the word Morris is lost in obscurity. The earliest documentary references are mainly from Church accounts in the early 1500's. It was certainly thriving in Shakespeare's time; Will Kemp's 'Nine Daies Wonder' was a Morris marathon from London to Norwich in 1600.
One popular theory is that when the original name and meaning of the rite were no longer remembered, the dance was called Moorish or Morris because the current word at that time for black men was Moor. Another theory points to evidence of similar dances in England, long before the Moors, derived from the Druids' Maris dances.
Certainly by Elizabethan times, the Morris was already known as an 'ancient custom', and had become established in many areas, mainly the Cotswolds, the Welsh Borders and the North West of England.
Traditions
These types of Morris dancing can be sub-divided into "Traditions"—different styles of dancing practised by the original dance team normally based in a particular village; for example, Bledington in Gloucestershire, Fieldtown in Oxfordshire and Brackley in Northamptonshire. A dance team may also feature a "Fool" or an "Animal" (a dancer in disguise, often as a dragon or hobby horse).
The Music
Some of the best traditional music has been preserved by the Morris Men. The pipe and tabor have been in use since ancient times; The fiddle was introduced in the 18th Century; and the concertina and the melodeon arrived in the early 19th Century.
The Bag
An important Morris tradition is a good monetary contribution to the bag; this brings good luck and strengthens the bond between onlookers and dancers. It also helps to buy charcoal for the dragon, hay for the hobby horse and shelter for the dancers during the winter practice season.
The Officers
The Officers of a Morris team are the Squire (leader), Bagman (secretary) and the Foreman (dance instructor).
Dance Programme 2013
as at 09/04/2013
Mon 1st April (Easter Monday)
11:30am - The Rose and Crown, Snettisham (PE31 7LX)
12:30pm - Norfolk Lavender Visitor Centre, Heacham (PE31 7JE)
1:30pm - The Lifeboat Inn, Thornham (PE36 6LT)
Wednesday 1st May (May Day)
5:15am - "Dancing the dawn up" - Knights' Hill Roundabout, South Wootton, King's Lynn
12 noon - King's Lynn May Garland Procession (PE30 5DQ) - Starting at the Saturday Market Place
Mon 6th May - May Bank Holiday Tour
12 noon - The Lord Nelson, Burnham Thorpe (PE31 8EN)
1:00pm - The Globe Inn, Wells-Next-Sea (NR23 1EU)
2:00pm - The Quay, Wells-Next-Sea (NR23 1AT)
Sunday 19th May
The Crab and Lobster Festival - Sheringham, Norfolk
Mon 27th May - Spring Bank Holiday Tour
12 noon - The Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe (PE31 8BJ)
1:00pm - The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market (PE31 8HE)
2:00pm - The Globe Hotel, Wells-Next-Sea (NR23 1EU)
3:00pm - The Quay, Wells-Next-Sea (NR23 1AT)
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th August
Copenhagen International Tour
Fridays, May - September
Evening performances at pubs throughout West Norfolk (venues TBA)
Sun 9th September
The King's Morris World Famous "Walking Tour" of Thornham
Massed Morris Dancing to Celebrate our 34th Anniversary
11:30am - The Old Coach House (PE36 6LT)
12:15pm - The Orange Tree (PE36 6LY)
1:00pm - The Lifeboat Inn (PE36 6LY)
Wed 26th December - Boxing Day
12 noon - The Swan Inn, South Wootton
Note: Some venues for the Bank Holiday Dance Tours are liable to change. Please contact us for up-to-date information.
Practices
October Annual General Meeting - Wiggenhall St. Germans Village Hall
Practices commence in October at 8:00pm, Wiggenhall St German's Village Hall
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