7:00am Tuesday 30th June 2009
By David Mills
A SCHOOL has cancelled a performance by a troupe of morris dancers over fears their blackened faces might cause offence.
The Dartford-based Motley Morris team, formed in 1981, was due to perform at Chantry Primary School in Ordnance Road, Gravesend, on Friday (June 26).
But the school, which has 272 pupils aged from three to 11, chose to pull the event saying it was “a difficult but well intended decision”.
Headteacher Hazel King said: “We organised the event to bring a diverse and fragile community together.
“To celebrate all cultures we booked a Morris troupe having failed to recognise the possible significance for our community of their tradition to perform with blackened faces and for this we sincerely apologise.
“We found ourselves in a difficult position of weighing up any potential offence versus not wishing to compromise the Morris dancers' tradition.
“It's a 'damned if we do, damned if we don't' scenario and quite understandably it will be a talking point as to the rights and wrongs of our decision.
“I apologise to the Morris troupe for any inconvenience caused and ask for people's understanding at what was a difficult but well intended decision.”
The Motley Morris team, which practises at the Hawley Pavilion in Hawley Road, blacken their faces using burnt cork as part of a tradition that originates from the Welsh borders.
Two hundred years ago, agricultural workers who could not work during the winter months, would “black up” to disguise their faces so they could beg on the streets and not be recognised.
Begging was illegal and punishable with prison, hence the black disguise.
The troupe’s secretary, Jim Snelling, said: “We are saddened and disappointed the school has passed up the opportunity to delve into a bit of English history and culture.
“We as a team understand that it can be perceived as a contentious issue.
“We haven’t got a problem with that at all, we can see how a black face could be misconstrued.
“It’s a shame that people don’t seem to be interested in finding out why we black up.”
Find out more about the Motley Morris team at motley-morris.co.uk
Do you think the school’s decision was right or wrong? Leave your comments below.
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