Mossley Morris
(Collected by Miss Maud Karpeles,
16th - 17th March 1938)
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The dance is performed in a stationary position.
There are usually 12 dancers (6 a side) or 3 lots of 4 and a leader, who
gave the change of figure by whistling or signs, but not by shouting the
orders.
Costume
Dark blue velvet jockey caps trimmed with a yellow ribbon. (One year they
had ladies' hats trimmed with flowers for a change), white shirt. Dark
blue velvet waistcoat and pants. Blue and red ribbons tied on to sleeves.
On one arm blue above elbow and red below, colours reversed on the other
arm. Beads hung round neck (as at Royton). Lace frills round edge of pants
and a yellow braid stripe down outside. Pale blue stockings. Clogs. 5
bells attached to outside of pants.
Sticks
Each dancer carried two sticks called "Tiddle-ups" or "Tiddlerers",
one in each hand. These are 13 inches long and about three-quarter inch
in diameter, covered first with canvas and then plaited with red and blue
braid half inch wide. At one end of the stick, 8 or 9 inches of braid
left hanging loose. At other end of the stick, there are loops which are
slung round wrists. Sticks left hanging down when processing and are grasped
in the hands at the whistle of the leader. Leader has one stick, rather
longer and thinner than dancers' sticks and covered with silk. Formerly
dancers used rope covered with canvas and decorated with ribbons, instead
of sticks.
Steps
Dancers walk in the processional and dance is performed in a stationary
position (i.e. not moving forward).
Change-Caper
A spring off one foot on to the other, free leg being thrown forward in
the caper.
Side Step
(Note no indication is given of when this step is used DRH) .
Dancers move sideways, two steps to the bar. On
the first beat dancer alights on left foot which is swung behind (or in
front) of the right. On the second beat the dancer alights on the right
foot. The step is a springy one.
Polka
Where indicated.
Stick Movements
Flourish
The following movements each of which takes one bar are performed simultaneously
and alternately with right and left arms.
The stick is held in a vertical position above
the head and two small circles are made.
The stick is brought in and down with. a circular sweep in front of the
body into a horizontal position at waist level. (This position should
not be reached until the second beat of the bar).
These movements are performed clockwise with the right arm and counter-clockwise
with the left arm. In the Fall-back, the movements start with circles
being made with the outside arm, i.e. when movement starts with right
foot, circles are made first with right hand, and so on.
Swing up
This movement accompanies the change-caper (one bar) It consists of a
swing up of both sticks overhead preceded by a small outward twist (right
hand clockwise and left hand counter-clockwise).
One-arm Flourish
The following movements, each of which takes one bar are performed alternately
and simultaneously with right and left arms.
2 circles as in Flourish
The stick is swung down and placed behind the back at waist level on the
first beat of the bar and is held in this position.
This movement accompanies the Polka step and the circles are made with
the right hand when the right foot is in front and with left hand when
the left foot is in front.
Cross and Out
The arms are alternately crossed at wrist level in front of the body at
waist level, and swung outwards to the "out" position as follows:
xout xout
rt lt
the right hand in front (r.f.) accompanies the polka with right foot in
front.
Circles
Both sticks are swung round in a small circle overhead, right hand clockwise
and left hand counter-clockwise.
Out
As in "out" of cross and out
Alternate Counter-waves
Sticks are swung alternately and simultaneously round and forward with
circular sweep (right arm counter-clockwise and left arm clockwise), each
circle or wave occupying one bar.
Figure 8 waves
Sticks are held at about waist level and are swung round in front of the
body in a figure 8, first outward (i.e. right hand counter-clockwise and
left hand clockwise) and then inwards (i.e. right hand clockwise and left
hand counter-clockwise).
The Dance
Fall Back
Bar Steps Arms
1-2 Fall back with 4 walking steps, starting with outside foot (?) 3 flourishes
and swing up
3 - 4 Move forward with 2 walking steps and change caper
5 - 8 Repeat
Dance
Bar Steps Arms
1 - 2 Partners face and polka (Alternative is to slip upwards with a springy
step in even rhythm so as to progress) Either one-arm flourish or Cross
in and out
3 - 4 All make whole turn upward 3 walking steps and feet together 3 circles
and out
5 - 8 Repeat, making a left turn with walking steps and change-caper 2
circles and up
Partners
Bar Steps Arms
1 - 4 Partners cross over into each other's places making a half-gypsy
facing each other and moving round counter-clockwise. Step:- 3 bars of
polka and change caper. Circles and up
5 - 8 Movement continued to places 2 bars circle, one bar alternate counter-waves
and up
Or
1 - 8 (?)Step:- 2 bars polka, 2 walking steps and change-caper
Corners
Bar Steps Arms
1 - 4 Corners cross passing left shoulders (right hand dancers passing
first) As in partners
5 - 8 Repeat to places Step:- As in Partners
Swing Partners
Bar Steps Arms
1-4 Partners arm right Circles with free stick at will
5 - 8 Partners arm left (Sometimes, instead of arming, forearms are placed
side by side and dancers grasp partners' elbows) Steps- Walking step with
change-caper in last bar Circles with free stick at will
Swing Corners
Bar Step Arms
1-4 Right hands across Hands bunched together in middle with sticks held
upright
5 - 8 Left hands across
Steps:- As in Swing Partners
Hands bunched together in middle with sticks held upright
Dancing up Middle
Bar Steps Arms
1 - 4 All move down middle with leader in front As in Fall Back
5 - 8 Leader comes up the middle by himself and rest of dancers cast up
to places.
Step:- Walking step finishing with change-caper.
Turn Inside
(Used in blind alleys or to turn in a confined space) Collected by Mr.
F. Hamer
Bar Steps Arms
1-4 Leader down centre followed by other dancers who cross over (right
file before left) As in Fall Back(?)
5-8 Following leader, turn in to come up the middle
Step:- Walking step finishing with change- caper.
Cross Morris - A
Bar Steps Arms
1-2 Partners cross over, odds going behind evens, both facing each other
Figure 8 waves
3-4 Make a half turn left and back to places (probably intended as a gypsy
movement)
Steps:- 4 side-steps, left foot in front in bars 1-2, left foot behind
in bars 3-4
Cross Morris - B
Bar Steps Arms
1 - 4 Mark time, one step to the bar Figure 8 waves
Cross Morris - C
Bar Steps Arms
1 - 8 Turn upward and downward as in the Dance
Nancy Dawson
Follows immediately after Cross Morris. Consists of Comers and then as
in Cross Morris B and C.
Order of Figures
Fall Back introduces the figure and is sometimes repeated. "Dance"
is often interpolated between "Fall Back" and next figure.
Music
Mossley Morris and Tickle Her (or Our or Owd) Martha or Cross Morris
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