The Morris Federation

Don’t know how many are aware, but traditional dance needs your support – we rallied round and made a huge difference to the public entertainment laws a few years ago and the same level of support is needed yet again to preserve tradition:

Traditional folklore dances in England since as far back as 1700s have been known to use props such as sticks and sword as part of their dances.

Currently, the government does not recognize dance as either an historical re-enactment or sporting activity and therefore dancers are not included within the exemption for the purchase & use of swords with regards to the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill  

These dances are forms of art that are of great historical & cultural relevance – banning the use of these swords will inevitably cause them to die out.    It is crucial that they are preserved & allowed to continue.

There is a petition to the Prime Minister posted on the Home Office website to get an exemption for dancers to include dance within the Historical Re-enactment or Sporting Activity exemption for the purchase of swords in reference to the VCR Bill.

 Please show your support and sign the petition to get dance included so that preserving the beautiful art of sword dance and mummers plays can continue as they are now.

Whether you are a dancer or not, your support is really needed!   Petition closes on 25^th June 2008.

More signatures are desperately needed!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dancers

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN!