Folk festival bans Morris dancers from appearing in blackface after complaints the 500-year-old tradition is racist 

  • Shrewsbury Folk Festival is banning full black face paint from this year on 
  • Dancers said make-up has no racial links and branded ban 'PC nonsense'
  • Traditionally dancers said to have used blackface to disguise themselves 
  • Other theory claims it traces back to attempt to mimic North African dance

By Ekin Karasin For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A folk festival has banned Morris dancers from performing with black paint on their faces after complaints that the 500-year-old tradition is racist.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival bosses said people wearing full black face paint would not be booked from next year - although dancers claim it has no racial links and branded it 'PC nonsense'.

This weekend's event will be the last time the popular festival will book Morris dancers using dark make-up.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival bosses said people wearing full black face paint would not be booked from next year

Shrewsbury Folk Festival bosses said people wearing full black face paint would not be booked from next year

This weekend's event will be the last time the popular festival will book Morris dancers using dark make-up

This weekend's event will be the last time the popular festival will book Morris dancers using dark make-up

Community group Fairness, Respect, Equality Shropshire (FRESH) said the ban showed sensitivity 'to a changed social climate'.

But Morris dancers say there were 'no racial connotations' and they had 'never wanted to upset people.'

Festival director Sandra Surtees said they found themselves 'caught between two sides' of the argument.

She added: 'The use of full face black make up is an age old tradition, particularly within Border Morris.

 But Morris dancers say there were 'no racial connotations' and they had 'never wanted to upset people

 But Morris dancers say there were 'no racial connotations' and they had 'never wanted to upset people

Community group Fairness, Respect, Equality Shropshire (FRESH) said the ban showed sensitivity 'to a changed social climate'

Community group Fairness, Respect, Equality Shropshire (FRESH) said the ban showed sensitivity 'to a changed social climate'

'The Morris movement has always evolved over time and some sides have take their own decisions to move away from using full face black make up to other forms of colour and disguise.

'We have been approached by one group that has requested we no longer book sides that use full face black make up and another that has asked us not to change our policy and to continue to book these sides.

WHY DO MORRIS DANCERS USE BLACK FACE MAKE-UP?

Morris dancers have performed with black face make-up since the origins of the dancing tradition - which is thought to date back to the 16th century.

The tradition is known as 'Border Morris' and sees performers wearing a full-face of black makeup in order to disguise themselves, has no racial connotations.

One interpretation of the tradition is that it started when impoverished 16th century farm workers had to conceal their faces to avoid being recognised while begging during winter, as asking for money was illegal.

Another theory claims the word 'morris' traces back to Moorish - and suggests the earliest performers were attempting to mimic the North African dances.

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'The festival finds itself caught between two sides of this opposing argument.

'The festival has never wished to cause offence to any person and as such, from 2017, we will no longer book sides that use full face black make up.

'This will only impact on a small number of dance sides and festival visitors will still be able to enjoy a wide range of traditional dance from the UK and beyond.'

Ms Surtees added that two of the three Morris groups booked for this year's festival had 'already moved away from wearing full face black make up of their own volition'. 

Jonathan Hyams, secretary for equality group FRESH said: 'From Fresh's perspective, it is good news.

'We entirely understand the argument from Morris dancing communities that this is something that goes back to tradition.

'Our understanding is that it comes from traditional disguise when for different reasons Morris dancers were subject to persecution if they were dancing or protesting against different things.

'However, there are other ways of celebrating this other than blacking up, which has very strong connotations of racism.'

Ms Surtees added that two of the three Morris groups booked for this year's festival had 'already moved away from wearing full face black make up of their own volition'

Ms Surtees added that two of the three Morris groups booked for this year's festival had 'already moved away from wearing full face black make up of their own volition'

 Festival director Sandra Surtees said they found themselves 'caught between two sides' of the argument

 Festival director Sandra Surtees said they found themselves 'caught between two sides' of the argument

But the decision has sparked public outrage from Morris dancers and Shropshire residents.

Jon Roads said: 'It's terrible that PC nonsense is being used to repress our traditional customs in this way.

'These ancient traditions are at risk of dying out completely. Just disgusting.'

Adrian Pitt added: 'I am disappointed that the organisers are not prepared to tolerate my traditional disguise, which has nothing to do with mimicry of any racial group and doesn't even look like any particular racial group, the evidence of which goes back centuries.' 

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