Morris dancers at the London Olympics

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Oct 05 - 02:10 AM

Mikefule ~ As someone who will be living within spitting distance of the Olympic stadia, it's not the contenders or the activities we find vacuous; after all, it's my daughter's schoolfellows who could be competing (watch out for a young lad called Lolu, 11 now and already damned fast) - more the promises of regeneration, rebuilding and revitalisation, along with improved services generally, high local employment opportunites and increased income to the area that we are sceptical of... particularly as we who live in the area have already started paying for the damned thing regardless of whether we're sports fans or not and so far got nothing but pollution, clogged roads and higher council tax.

And as the wife of a Morris dancer who performs regularly (once a year is regular isn't it?) abroad and at home, I can heartily concur with and paraphrase 'a morris dancer is without honour in his own country'.

LTS

LTS

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Folkiedave
Date: 23 Oct 05 - 03:51 AM

Be dismissive of the hype that goes with the Olympics by all means, but top level sport and sportsmen - especially in the less glamourous or lucrative sports - deserve more respect than that.

I think there is a slight misunderstaanding here, perhaps due to the title of the thread.

Most large Games - Olympic, Commonwealth and World Student for example, have a cultural festival and an opening ceremony associated with them.

It is this we are talking about - not morris dancing as a competitive sport. I am sure no-one is dismissing top level sports people. As a retired morris dancer (knees gave way) I know what it is like to practise for years and suffer for it later.

Missed out the ice baths though.

Dave

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Tradsinger
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 02:37 AM

I think that having Morris at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics is a great idea. What I will say is that the public will not want to see grey-haired morris men (or women) in their 50s (among whom I count myself) but will want to see vigorous youth. I would also be wary of the flowers in hats costume as that usually comes in for ridicule, albeit unwarranted.

What an opportunity to get fit young people involved and an opportunity to change Morris' image (and costume). Let the authorities start a training programme now (with help from the greyheads,of course)!

Gwilym

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 04:42 AM

Trad - if you need help seeking out fit young men, please consider me for the post.....

: )

LTS

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Crystal
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 05:16 AM

I'll help too!
Can we have young men in tight trousers please!
And can I take part? I'm young (and female, but I just want to get close to all the aformentioned young men in tight trousers!)

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 08:21 AM

Too late LtS.... they're already here, and go by the name of Dogrose Morris. They appeared on Jools Holland's show in 2003 and they were fantastic. Enough to give Morris dancing a good name.

Crystal must be too young to remember South Down Morris who were also young (about 20 years ago!) and used to register about 8.5 on the Tight Trouser Scale...so Eileen tells me, I wouldn't know about such things etc. etc.

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Crystal
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 09:38 AM

Yes I'm too young to remember them, but I'll happily oggle Dogrose Morris!

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 06:10 PM

Who remembers Seven Champions doing their Fame routine in Lycra body suits at Sidmouth some years ago?

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: mouldy
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 06:51 AM

There's a short, scathing article at the bottom of page 67 of Sunday's Independent. It's by some bloke called Andrew Mueller (and sits under a main article by Prof. Sir Robert Winston entitled "TV is the greatest art form").
The morris piece is in the "Bad Idea/ Good Idea" space at the bottom* of the page: heading "A load of old bells will ruin the Games". Referring to Lord Redesdale, who has proposed the dancers for the event, Andrew Mueller states, "...Redesdale's dream needs to be urgently and brutally suppressed. Not because of any tedious, modern disdain for Britisn traditions, but for the simple reason that it looks so silly. The spectacle of prancing idiots in floral hats tickling each other's beards with sticks will irrecoverably damage Britain's global standing."
This man has never obviously been within clashing distance of a long morris stick, and is, like so many, labouring under the illusion that morris stopped in the Cotswolds!

* The "good idea" is the Bottom Enlarger!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 07:07 AM

Is rapper Morris dancing?

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: GUEST,CamoJohn
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 07:18 AM

If you consider "Morris" as deriving from Moorish, then no, but the term "Morris dancing" does include Rapper, so yes.

Andrew Mueller is a 37yr old Australian media critic, and let's face it, Australians in British media don't really have a good track record (Like Rupert Murdoch, for instance, openly attempting to systematically destroy the Royal family). The sad thing is that holes like this guy are allowed to spout their offensive twaddle in British media.

here's the INXS-lookylike nob's email addy if ya wanna mass flame his antipodean ass: [e-mail]

CamoJohn (Just started Cotswold)

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 08:34 AM

"used to register about 8.5 on the Tight Trouser Scale".. which makes leapfrog dancers rather dangerous and split capers live up to their names!

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 08:35 AM

"The spectacle of prancing idiots in floral hats tickling each other's beards with sticks will irrecoverably damage Britain's global standing."

Didn't we do that when we invaded Iraq? That's something you can't blame the Morris for.

What is it with this country? Do the Greeks laugh at the soldiers in Athens with their 'skirts' and pom-pom shoes? Of course not. Nobody in this country seems happy unless they're criticizing, sneering at those who do anything slightly different to the masses, or pulling people down.

This country doesn't deserve the Olympics.

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 08:56 AM

What are the alternatives?

Pearly Kings & Queens doing Knees up Mother Brown?
Football fans doing You're gonna get yer fucking head kicked in?

I'll stick with the morris every time

Subject: RE: Morris dancers at the London Olympics
From: Crystal
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 09:54 AM

Or the popular culture alternative; Pre teen girls in obscene costumes grinding their hips to songs whose main lyrics are about sex.
It is disgusting, and practically child pornography, yet will probably get sincere consideration by the people running the show!