Oxford University Morris (OUM) is a friendly mixed-gender morris side performing Cotswold morris dances in Oxford and beyond. Our membership is made up of students, staff and alumni of Oxford University. We often dance together as ‘Town & Gown’ with our friends the Oxford City Morris Men (OCMM). New members are always welcome – see join us for more details.
In 2016, we celebrated our 90th anniversary. Oxford University Men’s Morris (OUMM) was officially established as a self-governing body on 17th October 1926 . For more detail on our history, delve in to “OUMM and its background (PDF)” by Roy Judge.
Summer dancing season
After May Morning our practise season ends, and we begin our Summer dancing season, during which we visit and dance at two Oxford pubs each Wednesday evening. Our summer programme is published here with each week’s pubs also announced on our Facebook page.
May Morning and Jack in the Green
Our biggest annual event is the Oxford May Morning celebration. Along with OCMM, we are responsible for organising the morris dancing in Oxford on May Morning, led by Jack-in-the-Green.
For more information on our May Morning customs, see Oxford May Morning and Jack in the Green.
The ‘Ancient Men’ tours
The Ancient Men are a touring morris side made up of past and present members of OUM.
Since their first tour in 1952, the Ancient Men have toured far and wide, from New Mexico to Japan; more than 100 tours in over 12 countries.
To find out where the Ancient Men are going, please visit this year’s Tour page!
Christmas – the Ancient Mummers
Each year, on the last Saturday before Christmas Eve, the Ancient Mummers tour the pubs of Jericho performing a traditional mummers play, in support of a local charity.
The play performed by the Ancient Mummers was collected in 1959 from Mr Percy Fonge of Holton, Oxfordshire, who had been taught the play when he was 14, in 1909.
Oxford University Morris (OUM) 