Longsword
Longsword dancing comes mainly from Yorkshire and a little further north. It is usually danced in teams of 6 or 8 dancers linked by the swords. The longswords are rigid, single handled strips of metal or wood, longer than rapper swords.
The dances range from stately to brisk in tempo. They feature circular patterns performed by stepping or leaping over or under the swords, occasionally breaking into parallel lines to form other shapes. Depending on the dance, the step may be a lope, a march, step-hop, or sometimes include percussive footwork.
Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers
Abingdon, Oxfordshire 2004
Photo: Doc Rowe
