'It’s good for keeping fit and mental well-being' - Oswestry resident wants to bring Morris dancing to the town

An Oswestry resident is hoping to bring Morris dancing to the town.

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Mike Lade, who originates from Sussex, home to numerous Morris troupes, wants to form an Oswestry “side” in the “Border Morris” tradition, which he calls “Oswestry Dark Morris”.

He said: “I was born in Sussex as a proud Sussex man where there were lots of Morris troupes. Albeit in a different style, so I have always had an interest in its history, its tradition, but most of all the fun they have.

“I believe it is so important to keep these old traditions to remind us of our roots. It’s a bit of escapism in this day and age of course but it’s more than that.

“It’s good for keeping fit and for our mental well-being as a bonus. I need dancers and musicians for this journey so if you want to be involved or just find out more please contact me.”

He said historically, Morris dates as far back as Tudor times with Border Morris performed by agricultural labourers during the winter months as a form of busking to earn extra money.

He says it is a “high-energy, traditionally rowdy style of English folk dance originating from the Welsh border counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire”.

“It is characterised by stick-clashing not waving of hankies, simple stepping to music, vibrant ‘tattered rag coats’ and heavily disguised faces using masks or grease paint,” he said.

He added that the use of face paint was used as a form of disguise that goes back to performing by the labouring classes to earn extra money, enabling them to go unrecognised and avoid being victimised by their landlords.

“We will also have ‘followers’ who can come along and support us and of course also dressed in the same as the dancers and musicians,” said MR Lade. “It’s fun for all.”

The new Oswestry Dark Morris welcomes anyone of 18plus who wishes to be part of this new project as a dancer (no prior experience required), a choreographer or as a musician with their own instrument on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, guitar, recorder, banjo, accordion, concertina or drum etc then please contact Mike on 07803 038858 or via email at [email protected].