Hang on.... five dancers... six swords!
Captain: John Leslie Secretary and Treasurer: Colin Street
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Hang on.... five dancers... six swords!
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Weaving complex figures with linked swords was a common form of dance right across Europe in the late middle ages. Its precise origins are unknown but references to sword dancing go back to classical times.
In Britain sword dancing was quite widespread in the sixteenth century but as with so many traditional customs it went into a decline in the post Civil War period and by the eighteenth century was only found in the North East of England.
What Did They Do?Most teams danced with long, rigid metal swords or wooden laths but during the nineteenth century a tradition of dancing with swords made of strips of flexible steel, called rappers, arose amongst the mining communities of the Northumberland and Durham coal fields. Many of these communities have passed away but teams of dancers both in the North East and increasingly across the country maintain this unique and exciting style of dancing
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The team in action at Sulgrave Manor
The team performed from late 1999 until a final outing at the Marlborough Ale in the U.S.A. in 2005 and then reformed with some new faces to take on Transylvania when Adderbury toured there in 2007. You would have seen us dancing to a lively medley of jigs played on the fiddle and weaving an increasingly complex series of figures whilst all the time remaining joined together by short flexible metal swords called ‘rappers’ or longer rigid 'long swords'.Why did they do it?The side is especially grateful to the trustees of the Banbury Charities who underwrote the cost of our first set of swords and to Pete Bareham who presented the side with a new set of hand made swords on December 23rd. 2000 as a first birthday present!
Click on the fruit to see their part in the apple wassailing in Daventry
If in doubt... go to 'Coach and Horses'.
Each figure of the dance requires the team to perform a complex set of moves at speed with strength and vigour and split second timing. An important part of the show is the tying of the ‘nut’ when the swords are linked to make a star which is then held aloft for the audience to admire. It is customary to cheer, applaud and throw money at this point. The performance generally begins with a song to call the dancers into line and may thereafter be punctuated by further songs and by the antics of two additional characters: the ‘Tommy’, an ex-military man which a strong interest in discipline and the ‘Betty’ a woman with hidden potential and a way with a mop..
'Tommy' and a 'Betty', we have three!
Formed by Banbury folk stalwart, John Leslie, this new team of dancers planned on bringing something special to the town. For the first time in nearly four hundred years Banbury has its own group performing traditional English dances. Drawing on the sword dancing customs of the North East the side made their debut in 1999 on Boxing Day morning at Banbury Cross.Although not currently in action the team could start up again at almost anytime... watch this space!
The team at Whitby 2000, who is that person at the back?
"The First I call on is John Leslie, a Banbury man born and bred.
Now he'd rather be taking it easy, he'd rather be lying in bed,
But his father he was noble Franklin, a hero of old it is said,
And he's come along here with his dancers, no team is there that's better lead.
The next I call is Keith Norton, it's football that's in his soul
He'd rather be kicking a football, he'd rather be scoring a goal,
But his father he was Nijinsky, the dancer I mean, not the horse,
So he's come along here for to foot it, his twirls are amazing of course.
The next I call on is Pete Bareham, a roofer of high degree,
Now he'd rather be leaning on ladders and standing around drinking tea,
But his father he was Sherpa Tensing, you climbed up Mount Everest high,
So just watch for this peak of perfection, look out as his feet they fly by.
The next I call in's Nigel Bennett, he's dapper and neat and he's trim,
Now he'd rather be playing his drum kit, he'd rather be bashing those skins,
But his father he was Richard Starkey, Ringo Starr is the name you will know,
So he's going to beat out a great rhythm, with a rat-a-tat-tat of his toe.
The next I call on's Colin Street, a veritable oak of a man,
Now he'd rather cut up Sunday drivers, he'd rather be out in his van,
But his father he was Henry Ford, he knew what was what about cars,
So just watch for his three point turn, he'll even dance round in reverse!"
Also featuring
as 'Tommy' - Stephen Wass
as occasional 'Betty' - Simon Pipe
and playing the music - Bryan Martin (violin),
