Morris Dancers move across the Corner

A visit from the Morris Dancers is a signal, to many Northwest Corner residents, that summer has arrived. Continuing a 27-year tradition, three “tours� of Morris Dancers danced, hopped and jingled their way from town to town. With visits to towns as far north as New Marlborough, Mass., south to West Cornwall and Sharon, west to Millerton and many points in between, the colorfully arrayed Morris men helped keep this bit of ancient history alive for their appreciative audiences.

Morris dancing is an English form of entertainment that nearly died out during the Industrial Revolution but was revived in the 1960s and 1970s. In America, there are about 150 Morris sides or teams in the United States.

The performers are usually men, but women often accompany the dancers, wearing old-fashioned beribboned costumes.

As always, the three troupes of dancers who performed around the Tri-state region met for a grand finale at the end of the day in the center of Falls Village — where they remained remarkably fresh and energetic despite a full day of exertions.

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