Arts

27 Feb 09

Morris Dancing exhibition at the Bate Collection

Oxford University’s Bate Collection is launching a new exhibition Oxfordshire Morris Dancing: a living tradition for the month of March, which opens on Tuesday (3 March).

The Collection, housed in the Music Faculty, celebrates the history and development of musical instruments of the Western Classical tradition from the medieval period until the present day.

At the official opening, there will be a viewing from 5pm and music and dancing at the Bear Inn from 6.30pm. This latest exhibition has been timed to coincide with the Oxford Folk Festival on the weekend of 20-22 March and on Sunday 22 there will be music workshops open to the public inside the building, as well as Morris dancers outside.

Curator Andy Lamb said: ‘Morris dancing is an indigenous tradition for Oxfordshire and far from being anachronistic, is a living and vibrant art form.  It is part of the mission of the Bate Collection to forge partnerships with the local community and we are very pleased to be able to host such a fascinating exhibition.  It is sure to be of interest to enthusiasts and local historians alike.’

The items and photos in the exhibition have been loaned or supplied by Oxfordshire Morris sides. They include a striped, painted fiddle in the colours of the side Cry Havoc, a buzzard mask, a map showing defunct and current sides in Oxfordshire and a fool’s costume from the 1950s worn by Dennis Manners MBE who was well known for his love of Morris dancing and died in December last year.

Alice Little who has been managing the project said: ‘The entire exhibition is intended to show that whilst Oxfordshire hosts some of the oldest morris sides in the country there is a host of new sides being formed and new styles, dances and music being developed by local people. And contrary to recent press coverage, a lot of young people are involved.’