How old are the UK's morris dancers?
The age distribution of UK morris dancers is skewed towards older age groups. More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of UK morris dancers are aged 50 or over and just over half (52 per cent) are aged 60 or over. In contrast, just 9 per cent of UK morris dancers are aged under 30.
The age distribution has been shifting further towards older age groups over time, as shown by four waves of the Morris Census. The proportion of morris dancers aged 50 or over has risen from 66 per cent in 2014 and 2017, to 70 per cent in 2020 and 2023. The proportion of morris dancers aged under 30 has fallen from 13 per cent in 2014 to 9 per cent in 2020.
The most astonishing change is that the proportion of morris dancers in the UK who are over 70 has increased rapidly, from just 7 per cent in 2014 to 24 per cent in 2023.
The age distribution has been shifting further towards older age groups over time, as shown by four waves of the Morris Census. The proportion of morris dancers aged 50 or over has risen from 66 per cent in 2014 and 2017, to 70 per cent in 2020 and 2023. The proportion of morris dancers aged under 30 has fallen from 13 per cent in 2014 to 9 per cent in 2020.
The most astonishing change is that the proportion of morris dancers in the UK who are over 70 has increased rapidly, from just 7 per cent in 2014 to 24 per cent in 2023.
The average age of morris dancers has risen over time from an estimated 52 in 2014 to 53 in 2017, 55 in 2020 and 56 in 2023. The chart below shows that the average age of morris dancers is at least 55 in all three main UK morris organisations. The average age in each of the three organisations has risen since 2014, by four years in the Morris Federation, two years in the Morris Ring and seven years among members of sides in Open Morris.
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This steady rise in the average age suggests that side are getting gradually older. The tables below demonstrate this clearly over the longer-term. Data from previous surveys of individual organisations' member sides shows that the average ages of morris dancers in both the Morris Ring and Morris Federation have been rising steadily over time.
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The chart below shows that the age distribution of UK morris dancers varies by performance style. While Rapper has quite a young age profile – with 29 per cent under 30 and only 37 per cent over 50, other styles such as North West, Garland, Mumming and Appalachian have a greater number of over 50s compared to average.
The steady aging of morris dancers is concerning for its future. However, it is somewhat encouraging that the age distribution among new recruits is younger than among established members. The average age of new recruits is 45, compared to the average age of current members of 56. Recruits tend to be from younger age groups: around 600 dancers under age 30 have been recruited in the last two years.
While the chart below shows that recruits were steadily getting older, rising from an average age of 41 in 2014 to 45 in 2020, the average age fell very slightly in 2023. Only around a quarter (23 per cent) of new recruits are under age 30, compared to 31 per cent in 2014, but higher than 21 per cent in 2020.
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