MORRIS dancers have appealed for new recruits to pick up sticks and hankies and keep their tradition alive.
Kintbury Morris, an all-female troupe who have performed around the world, have backed a nationwide call for budding dances to give morris a try.
Last week, the Morris Ring, the national association of 200 all-male morris sides, said that the centuries-old dance style may disappear if younger people do not take it up.
There is widespread worry that traditional costume and music puts off new recruits, who enjoy watching demonstrations at fêtes, but are too embarrassed to take it up.
Dance teacher Penny Brookman, aged 58, who dances with Kintbury Morris, said that morris is ideal for young mums wanting to stay active.
And she said that the tradition evolve by embracing modern music and costumes.
“The foremost thing is that the traditions survives and that it is a living tradition, not just documented and put in a museum,” she said.
“To make it relevant today it has to be something which people want to do in their every day life. There is nothing wrong with making up our own dances, as long as you are true to Morris.”
As a dance student, Mrs Brookman was introduced to international folk dance, but became determined to explore her own country's traditional dance.
Dating back at least six hundred years, it is thought morris evolved from court masques into village festival dancing. The famous bells, sticks, hankies, make-up and rag jackets would all draw attention to travelling dancers.
Mrs Brookman said that Kintbury Morris were keen to incorporate new ideas to keep the tradition fresh.
She said: “As a dance tutor, I try to teach morris to youngsters. If they don't like the music they're doing it to then we can change it. If they we want to do it to rap music or house music we can. If dancing to that music means they're willing to do it, then that's what we do.
“I think it's important that students of performing arts courses who are doing dance know the origins. For me, they have to know the traditions of their own country.”
Kintbury Morris have demonstrated their dances in Japan and New England, and are currently planning a trip to Slovenia to perform alongside traditional folk dancers.
Mrs Brookman said that other countries embrace their traditional folk culture far more easily than England
“Over the year it's become one of those things that people love to laugh at. The British are good at that – we love to put down our own things,” she said.
“Singing and dancing doesn't come naturally to the English male. Most other cultures in the world, sing and dance for births, marriages, funerals and everything else.”
Now she hopes that a mass display of morris men and May maids at the opening of the 2012 Olympics will attract new attention.
“It would be very sad if it wasn't there,” she said.
“You think of the opening of Olympics in so many other countries, and they have their traditional dances and traditional costumes. It could be done in such a way to create a beautiful spectacle.”

For video footage of our reporter Helen White learning about Morris dancing and trying out a few steps, go to newburytoday.co.uk.
Anyone wishing to enquire about trying out Morris Dancing should contact Penny Brookman on 01488 683314.