IT’S the 500-year old tradition that’s making a comeback.

First mentioned in the Mayor’s accounts of 1562 when “so much money was given to singers and players and Morris dancers on May Day - three shillings and four pence” now one of the city’s longest running Morris sides is planning a ‘day of dance’ with teams from across the south and as far as Jersey coming to the city.

Dancer John Connell - who has danced with King John’s Morris for 35 years and now plays melodeon and squeezebox for them - said the tradition is enjoying a renaissance.

He said: “There is definitely an uptake with young people. There are lots and lots of different types and styles - King John’s do North West style with clogs, Cotswold which people know have the sticks and hankies, and Border Morris which comes from the Welsh border towns.

“We have got about 25 men and we practise from September to May and then dance out through the summer, including at the Bargate every May Day morning.

The ex Wyvern College design and technology teacher from Lock’s Heath said: “We just want to keep the tradition alive. it’s important. You look at Scotland and Ireland and you get traditional music rammed down your throat. But in England we seem to have an ambivalence towards it, even though we have just as much music and as many songs.”

Days of dance happen throughout the UK but this is a first for Southampton - but King John’s hope to make it an annual event.

Legally, Morris dancers have to ask permission from landowners to dance on their land and in this case Southampton City Council have agreed.

As previously reported, students at Southampton University set up a new Morris side using the Roman name for Southampton. Clausentum is run by University PhD student and 2015 national jig champ Owain Boorman.

The Folk Dance Southampton event is free and open to everybody and takes place on September 16.

All the dance spots will be within walking distance in the city centre at the Guildhall, Bargate and City Walls.

There will be an evening ceilidh in Central Hall with local folk band Jigfoot.