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The Flamborough Sword Dance

Flamborough Sword Dance

The Longsword Dance
There are many theories of the origins of the dance known as the Longsword Dance but no one theory can be proven. We know that there was a concentration of sword dancers in the north east of England and that the dance was also found throughout Europe. In the early 20th Century social changes in England resulted in the demise of many traditions and customs - but the Flamborough Longsword Dance continued to be performed regularly.

The Flamborough Longsword Dance
We can trace the history of the Flamborough Longsword dance for more than 100 years. An early press report describes an outing by the Flamborough dancers on Christmas Eve of 1891 but there is reason to think that the custom is much older than this.

In January 1912 a survey was undertaken in the north of England which identified the villages of Bempton, Burton Agnes, Nafferton, Rudston, Thwing and Weaverthorpe as locations where the Flamborough team of dancers had recently visited or were expected to visit in the near future. During a visit to the village in 1912 the highly respected researcher Cecil Sharp arranged for a series of photographs to be taken of adult and junior teams, some of which were used in the book he produced "Sword Dances of Northern England". This three part book ensured that the Flamborough sword dance quickly became well known throughout the folk world. The dance even spread to North America and throughout Europe. In the 1950's a group of folk dance experts visited Japan and were shown a Japanese dance (know as the "Oni Kenbai"), which was thought to be similar to parts of the Flamborough Sword Dance.

There are theories that the dance tradition moved to Flamborough from an inland village but we cannot find firm evidence to support this. However there are recollections of a "Fond Plow" team who performed traditional plays and who visited Flamborough "from Bridlington way". Some customs failed to survive the changes in the first half of the 20th Century and all but a handful of dances died out. Fortunately the Flamborough dance tradition was one of the survivors. Over the years the dance has become widely known throughout the folk world but few people know much about the existence of a village team.

Over the past decades the Flamborough dance has been extensively performed, often by teams who are unaware of the existence of the village team. The current Flamborough village team hope other teams will respect the original village tradition.

The Flamborough dance is "discovered" by folklorists
A number of researchers of folk traditions were active around the turn of the 20th Century - one of the most influential was Cecil Sharp. In 1912 he carried out a survey, which gathered details of sword dances from villages from north and east Yorkshire which still had, or once had a sword team, or were visited by a sword team from elsewhere.

Cecil Sharp visited the north of England looking for information on sword dances for a book he was working on. He followed up leads from a questionnaire he issued and found many references to the Flamborough Longsword dancers. The team were well known locally and regularly visited villages around Flamborough.

Sharp arranged for two young Flamborough fishermen (thought to have been Richard Major and George Emmerson) to visit London to teach the Flamborough dance. He also taught the dance to a team in London and published it in the second part of his book. On his visit to Flamborough Cecil Sharp saw the dance performed and he got first-hand information from Richard and William Major, antecedents of Richard Traves's family.

Junior teams and the "Flamborough Lasses"
Much information about the dance came to light as a result of a village meeting. The information gathered at this meeting confirmed that junior teams often danced alongside the men, indeed a collection of photographs from 1912 depicts both adult and junior teams. These teams from the local school played an important role in keeping the tradition alive. We also know that school teams from other parts of the country performed the Flamborough dance as a form of physical education.

The current organiser of the Flamborough team, Richard Traves and his three sons and his cousin were among the many boys who were taught the dance as they passed through the village school.

For many years the dance in Flamborough was regarded as the province of men. However recent information has come to light about a team of women who performed the Flamborough dance in the 1930's. This team of Girl Guides were determined to keep the tradition alive in spite of a shortage of interested men.

Boxing Day tour of the Village
The current village dance team limit their outings. Their main outing is a tour of the village on Boxing Day. Now, as in the past, money is collected and is donated to local causes.

The Flamborough team are anxious to explain that they regard their main tradition to be the tour of the village on Boxing Day - an event which involves the meeting of dancers, a practice walk through (with inevitable arguments) and collecting money. The tour of the Pubs in the village finishes in Dog and Duck Square, which involves banter and encouragement from villagers and friends. The dance is a part of this happy event but it is only a part.

Interested?
The team would welcome information about the Flamborough dance and past teams. A recent meeting in the village uncovered many fascinating details including old photographs from an important London based archive. Any help with further information, photographs or mementoes of earlier teams would be appreciated.

If you know of anyone who can add to the information in the book or can loan photographs or other mementoes we would be delighted to add such information to future issues of the book.

The History of the Flamborough Longsword dance
The team have published a book to record the history of the team. Copies can be purchased at the village shop for £5.00 - or send a cheque or postal order made payable to FLAMBOROUGH LONGSWORD. If you would like a copy posted to you add £1.50 and send your order to Richard Traves, Flamborough Longsword Team, Thornwick Cottage, North Marine Road, Flamborough, East Yorkshire, YO25 1LF.

Script and Information
Trevor Stone.

This website has been set up by Flamborough Community Environmental Action Group with funding through:

English Nature and The Shell Better Britain Campaign.