Morris Dancing

Please help me understand this thing.

The one time I watch a Morris Dance exhibit, it appeared to be a bunch of extroverts, banging BIG sticks. They also had one member working the crowed, I did not know if he was part of the dance, collecting donations or picking pockets. I will say the music was captivating and the dancers seamed to enjoy being beat upon. No one seamed to get hurt so I can only assume that it is choreographed like the WWC. So, tell me about the history of the dance, why the big sticks, where is it danced, and was the music written for the dance or did the music come first.

One last question is this some form of primitive mating dance? It did not effect me that way, but I am in my 60's, then again the young ladies with BIG sticks did get my attention.