"Winter Sword Dancing: a black and white issue?" - Andrew Kennedy - Talk
Channel: The Morris Federation
Date: 2023-02-08

Recording of a talk on "Winter Sword Dancing: a black and white issue?" by Andrew Kennedy on Zoom on 29 January 2023. 

Abstract
Expanding on ‘Masquerade and Fun’, an article written for the ‘Rattle Up, My Boys‘ longsword magazine, this talk examines the place of sword dancing in winter festivities and contrasts it with civic and religious performances. The central importance of disguise and colour will be discussed.

Further Information
There is a review on the ‘news’ section of our web site thanks to Liam Hopkins of Grenoside Traditional Longsword Dancers: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/2023/02/08/winter-sword-dancing/ 

Here is a link to Andrew's previous talk "Who were the sword dancers and why did they do it?" https://youtu.be/adFwulxYuQ8 

Here are the references that Andrew used in this talk:
• Cramond, W. (1897) Extracts from Elgin Kirk-Session Records. (India: Prana Books Classic Reprints).
• Dombrowski, J. (2023) History of the Venice Carnival Masks https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/history-venice-carnival-mask/ accessed 4.1.2023.
• Hayward, B. (1992) Galoshins: the Scottish Folk Play. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press).
• Lonsdale, M.  (1811) ‘The Upshot at Great Orton’, in Smith, J.R. (ed.) (1839) Westmorland and Cumberland Dialects (London: John Russell Smith).
• Louis, M. A-L. (1963) Le Folklore et la Danse. (Paris: Maisonneuve et Larose).
• Meschke, K. (1931)  Der Schwerttanz im germanischen Kulturkreis.  (Leipzig: B.G. Teubner). (Reprinted as Schwerttanz und Schwerttanspiel im germanischen Kulturkreis.)
• Schlossar, A. (1879) Oesterreichische Cultur- und Literatuebilder. (Wien: Wilhelm Braumüller).
• Thiel, H. (1970) Die deutschen Volkstänze in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien.  (Marburg: N.G. Elwert).

Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:20 Talk on "Winter Sword Dancing: a black and white issue?"
45:50 Questions

Details of talk: https://www.morrisfed.org.uk/resources/videos/winter-sword-dancing-a-black-and-white-issue/

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