2012 Olympics and Morris Dancing

[Guest guest]

I think they should have Morris sides for the opening ceremony.

 

Jo

 

Morris dancing for the Olympics?

By Justin Parkinson

BBC News political reporter

 

 

 

Morris dancing: More popular than beach volleyball in the UK

Every Olympic city stamps its own identity on the opening ceremony,

displaying its culture to an audience of billions.

 

The Barcelona games got under way to the site of massed flamenco dancers,

while Athens had running Greek statues and gyrating " goddesses " holding

snakes.

 

A Liberal Democrat peer is calling for London to follow suit in 2012 with

the nearest English equivalent: Morris dancing.

 

Groups of people jumping around with sticks or handkerchiefs in hand are

laughable to some, but Lord Redesdale thinks they could be a great advert

for UK tourism.

 

'Show them to the world'

 

He told the BBC News website: " There are 14,000 Morris dancers in this

country and they should be represented in the ceremony.

 

" People come from around the world to see our traditions, so we should show

them off whenever we get the chance.

 

 

Having all 14,000 Morris dancers in the stadium at the same time

would be a great idea

 

Lord Redesdale

 

" How many people do beach volleyball in the UK? They get Horseguards Parade

to show off their skills.

 

" I'm not suggesting making Morris a sport, but let's at least give it a

role. "

 

Morris dancing, in which participants act out legends such as the battle

between St George and the Dragon, has rather vague origins.

 

Some say it derives from pre-Christian fertility rites, others that it is

from the French Moresque or the Spanish Morisca dances of the late 15th and

early 16th Centuries.

 

'Discrimination'

 

In northern England, most groups - or " sides " - clatter sticks to make

noise. In the south, there are more so-called " hanky men " , who wave brightly

coloured handkerchiefs to the accompanying music.

 

Lord Redesdale, a Lib Dem energy spokesman, said: " Morris dancers are

discriminated against. A lot of people like to take the mickey, but it

brings people a lot of enjoyment.

 

 

Snakes had a key role at the Athens opening ceremony

 

" All Olympic opening ceremonies show off the cultural activities of the

country, so why should London 2012 be any different?

 

" I think having all 14,000 Morris dancers in the stadium at the same time

would be a great idea. "

 

The English " Olympick Games " - or Cotswold Games - which pre-dated the

modern Olympics by around 300 years, featured such sports as shin-kicking

and cudgel-play.

 

Morris dancing was an integral part of their opening ceremonies.

 

So, could frilly shirts, clogs, hankies, sticks and bells make a comeback,

becoming as much a part of London 2012 as lycra and isotonic sports drinks?

 

The event's organisers have promised to use the " full creative talents of

Britain's spectacular world-class directors and artists, technicians and

performers will be used to fill the Olympic Stadium with magic, wit and

wonder " .

 

Asked a question by Lord Redesdale, government spokesman Lord Davies of

Oldham told the House of Lords that Morris dancing had a " very high cultural

value " .

 

But the contents of the Olympic opening ceremony were not yet decided, he

added.