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Danny Lee

The quaint and jolly morris dance – a colourful throwback to the folk traditions of rural England – is aiming to secure a wider following in Hong Kong.
With around 15 local and expat members, the Hong Kong Morris – founded in 1972 – hopes to introduce new fans and performers to a staple of English culture with the revival of maypole dancing and the celebration of this year’s May Day holiday.
A carnival on May 2 at Kowloon Cricket Club in Jordan, which is co-organising the event by lending its premises, will feature both traditional dance forms.
John Leighton, a member of the Hong Kong Morris, said he hoped to see the traditional English dances flourish.
Watch: Morris dancing in Hong Kong


“Maypole dancing has not been done in Hong Kong for a while, and its really nice to be able to see people be able to take an interest in this again, to get others involved,” he said.
Carnival co-organiser Mark Bromhead, president of the Royal Society of St George’s Hong Kong branch, said: “Our society is there to promote all things English and we raise money for charity. May Day is quite an English celebration, and this is something we’ve wanted to do.”
In the maypole dance, accompanied by music, boys and girls dance around a pole or tree holding an individual piece of ribbon, weaving in between each other.
He added: “Morris dancing and maypole dancing will be so important – as a tradition that’s been going on for hundreds of years and its still going on today.
“If we can make this carnival a success, we’d love to continue doing this every year.”
May Day celebrations are an essential part of life in many parts of rural England.
Maypole dancing has not been done in Hong Kong for a while, and its really nice to be able to see people be able to take an interest in this again, to get others involved
In traditional morris dancing, participants in uniform costumes stay in rhythmic step, throwing sticks and handkerchiefs around, while chiming to bells rattling from their legs.
The cricket club carnival will feature a bouncy castle, face painting, coconut throwing and archery contests, much like the fun in English villages.
International school head teacher Stephen Palmer, 60, another local Morris member, described the English dance a part of culture, and said anyone in Hong Kong with a “hint of curiosity” would see similarities to the celebrated Chinese lion dance.


Dancing around the maypole in Hong Kong: reviving morris dancing for May Day

Dancers of The Hong Kong Morris in practice. 18APR16 SCMP/Edward Wong

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Hong Kong

Education

A May Day carnival at the Kowloon cricket club aims to breathe life into the celebration of English folk dancing in Hong Kong
