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The Kirkburton Longsword Dances
Kirkburton Rapier Dancers regularly
perform 6 longsword dances, these being named Numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 &
7 (will Number 8 ever appear?) All the dances are based on
both new and traditional figures. Very occasionally we may perform the
technically demanding Number 4 dance!
There are seven performers during
each dance, six holding swords to form a circle, and the seventh being
the Captain, who sings the verses of the song, when neccessary and directs
the performance from outside the ring. The only times that the circle
is broken is at the beginning when the swords are clashed, and at the
end when they are interwoven to form the Lock.
During the dance each figure is generally repeated six
times, led off by each dancer in turn. In between some figures there is
a chorus when all dancers dance into the middle. The figures may vary
from year to year, or even between performances and as new ones are devised
they may be substituted into the dance. The same can be said for the music.
The only requirement of tunes is that they are in jig time. |
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