Earsdon Sword Dance

The Earsdon Sword Dance is a traditional English folk dance performed by the Royal Earsdon Sword Dancers. They are based in Earsdon, Northumberland, a village about 2 miles (3 km) from the resort town of Whitley Bay.

The Earsdon dance company began around 1800.[1] Since 1829 they have traditionally performed each Christmas for the Dukes of Northumberland at Alnwick Castle. The persons in the team are a Tommy (or Captain) and Bessy (a man dressed as a female) character, five dancers, and a musician who plays the fiddle.[2] The seven performers wear a bright costume whilst the fiddler may wear his normal clothes.

The swords used are two handled swords, the flexible blades of which are approximately twenty-four inches (609 mm) in length and one and one eighth inches (29 mm) in width.

See also

References

  1. ^ Cawte 1981, pp. 81–83.
  2. ^ Sharp 1911, p. 82.

Works cited

  • Cawte, Christopher (1981). "A History of the Rapper Dance". Folk Music Journal. 4 (2).
  • Sharp, Cecil J. (1911). The Sword Dances of Northern England, Together with the Horn Dance of Abbots Bromley. London: Novello & Co.
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