Recording of event
This talk took place using the Zoom video service on 2 May 2021. A recording of the talk is available on YouTube: “Who were the sword dancers and why did they do it?” – Talk by Andrew Kennedy.
Talk – “Who were the sword dancers, and why did they do it?” – Andrew Kennedy
Records of sword dancing can be found dating as far back as the fourteenth century, and enough books and articles have been written about it to form a small library. Much of what has been written focuses upon the action, the events.
This talk takes a look at the people who danced, focusing on Britain and northern Europe from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century, and in particular at certain rare cases where we can investigate individual named dancers and find out a surprising amount about them.
If you’d like to read more about this and other aspects of sword dancing that have interested Andrew, please look at his website About Sword Dancing at www.sworddance.info
Featured image: Nürnberg Schwerttanz der Messerer 1600
Your host
Having been an enthusiastic country dancer as a child, Andrew Kennedy fell into Morris dancing while at university before finding his way to rapper. When he grew up he became a longsword dancer, going on to play for dancing and then to write a bit about it.
He edited the sword dancing newsletter Rattle Up, My Boys for a while and organised the overseas teams for the 2004 and 2008 International Sword Spectacular festivals.
He has danced/played with teams including Clydeside Rapper, Carlisle Sword and Morris Dancers, Sallyport Sword Dancers, East Saxon Swords, White Star Sword Dancers, Thrales Rapper, Southport Swords, and the North British Sword Dancers.
To register
Please complete this online form: Register for the Talk – Who were the sword dancers, and why did they do it? – Andrew Kennedy; you will receive a confirmation email immediately (check your spam/junk/promotions folder!). We will send you a Zoom link a couple of days before the event. Open to all – you don’t have to be a member of a team in The Morris Federation.
Optional Donations
If you enjoy this talk and would like to make a contribution then please support the sword dancing newsletter Rattle Up, My Boys or, better still, subscribe – a very reasonable £8 for one year (4 issues). Email: rattleupmyboys@gmail.com
