About Border

It all started when…

Border Morris is a traditional dance form originating from the Border counties between England and Wales – Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and - the best, of all counties - Gloucestershire.

Border’s particularly associated with winter, unlike our Cotswold Morris friends who generally dance out in the summer months and wear a lot of white. Many of our tunes and dance figures are similar to those of Cotswold Morris, but the style of dancing is completely different. Border is far less intricate (ie, easier to remember..), and is earthier, sometimes aggressive, with lots of whoops and roars from the dancers. As a spectacle, it is pretty dramatic – and of course, all our dances involve clashing sticks.

Most modern Border Morris sides wear tattercoats and paint their faces. Styx of Stroud paints a kind of black mask with a red streak and black tears. We know the disguise works as we’re always bumping into people when we’re out and they get half way through a conversation before they realise who they’re talking to…