A LEDBURY-based dance group have been dancing for the first time without black face.

Silurian Border Morrismen recently voted to scrap the tradition which dates back five centuries amid growing controversy that the practice is 'blackface'.

Traditionally, it is thought black soot was worn by dancers as a disguise so they could beg without getting in trouble with the law. But Ledbury-based Silurian Morris previously announced it had decided to switch to green face paint following a majority vote.

The group showed their new dark green look for the first time while performing on their traditional Christmas tour in Ledbury High Street, outside Market House, on Bank Holiday Monday.

 

The group performed an English folk dance routine to crowds of onlookers, who cheered and clapped along.

Speaking to the crowd at one point Silurian foreman Ian Craiga made reference to "recent media controversial", but joked this was instead due to one of their members "going carbon neutral".

Morris dancer Chris Mulvey, 71, admitted the majority of the group would like to have continued with the black disguise - but felt it was the right time to change.

Chris, who has been member since 1978, said: "There have been about 15 of us out performing and we have had hundreds come and watch us dance.

"We've had no direct comments from anyone, we were not anticipating any antagonism from the public at all - and that has been proved.

"They just want to see people having a laugh and making fun of themselves.

"We're not taking the mick out of anyone. If anybody is offended we do not want to add to that.

"We just want to come out and perform the dance we have been dancing - it has always just been based on a visual disguise.

"The idea for the disguise originally was to do with begging laws: in case any one caught out, you could say 'I don't know who they are because of their disguise'.

"We had the controversy of racism, so we changed - we don't want any confusion on that matter."

Silurian foreman Ian Craigan added some people "feel it is a step too far" but said he wanted to be "on the right side of things" to help attract new members to the club.