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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| School bans black-face Morris Men | School bans black-face Morris Men |
| (4 days later) | |
| A group of Morris dancers say they are "disappointed and frustrated" after performances were cancelled because they wear traditional black make-up. | A group of Morris dancers say they are "disappointed and frustrated" after performances were cancelled because they wear traditional black make-up. |
| Kent's Motley "Border" Morris Men follow a tradition which originated in the Welsh borders, where faces were blackened using burnt corks. | Kent's Motley "Border" Morris Men follow a tradition which originated in the Welsh borders, where faces were blackened using burnt corks. |
| Chantry Primary School in Gravesend is one of three event organisers which have cancelled perfomances this year. | Chantry Primary School in Gravesend is one of three event organisers which have cancelled perfomances this year. |
| The school said it had to weigh up any potential offence to its community. | The school said it had to weigh up any potential offence to its community. |
| The Motley Morris Men's Squire, Pete Hargreaves, said it was clear from its website that the dancers wear black make-up. | The Motley Morris Men's Squire, Pete Hargreaves, said it was clear from its website that the dancers wear black make-up. |
| "It is the third event this year that we have had cancelled," he said. | "It is the third event this year that we have had cancelled," he said. |
| "We get to the point where everything is set up and then they suddenly realise that we are a black-face Border group. | "We get to the point where everything is set up and then they suddenly realise that we are a black-face Border group. |
| "They say people might be offended without investigating why we dance with black faces." | "They say people might be offended without investigating why we dance with black faces." |
| Danced for money | Danced for money |
| The group was formed in 1981, but said this was the first year bookings had been cancelled. | The group was formed in 1981, but said this was the first year bookings had been cancelled. |
| Blackened faces are believed to have been used originally as a disguise by Morris men who danced for money and did not want to be recognised. | Blackened faces are believed to have been used originally as a disguise by Morris men who danced for money and did not want to be recognised. |
| Morris dancer Jim Snelling said: "I understand the school's concern but it is a shame they didn't take the opportunity to find out or ask us along to have a discussion about this fairly important part of our culture." | Morris dancer Jim Snelling said: "I understand the school's concern but it is a shame they didn't take the opportunity to find out or ask us along to have a discussion about this fairly important part of our culture." |
| Head teacher of Chantry Primary, Hazel King, said it apologised for any inconvenience caused to the Morris Men. | Head teacher of Chantry Primary, Hazel King, said it apologised for any inconvenience caused to the Morris Men. |
| "We organised the event to bring a diverse and fragile community together," she said. | "We organised the event to bring a diverse and fragile community together," she said. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "We found ourselves in a difficult position of weighing up any potential offence versus not wishing to compromise the Morris dancers' tradition." | "We found ourselves in a difficult position of weighing up any potential offence versus not wishing to compromise the Morris dancers' tradition." |
| Pete Hargreaves and the Motley Morris Men say they perform following a tradition from the Welsh borders | Pete Hargreaves and the Motley Morris Men say they perform following a tradition from the Welsh borders |