Round Corner Round Corner

Longsword

Six children wearing white tops, black trousers and long white socks with ribbons and bells are dancing a longsword dance in a circle, their sticks raised in the air ready to strike in the centre.

How Anonymous came to dance longsword (occasionally)

Anonymous Morris occasionally learn a longsword dance and also teach workshops for longsword. It all came about because of Terry Pratchett...

The Discworld convention is, naturally, frequented by Pratchett fans, who often have an interest in folklore and folk traditions, as well as fancy dress, role play, literary analysis, etc.

In 2008 the members of the Convention were all assigned to different guilds and the assassins' guild decided it would be apropriate for them members to learn a longsword dance, complete with mock execution at the end.

Judith Proctor, who was attending the convention, got roped in as a musician and the group won a prize in the Maskerade. (I still have the certificate, signed by Terry himself)

A certificate from the 2008 Discworld Convention presented to Judith Proctor for 'Ambition and Achievement in the Field of Folklore'

The next convention, Judith taught the dancers, and it went on from there. Books on longsword were acquired and the history studied and Anonymous had their arms twisted to learn a longsword dance.

We often teach longsword workshops at Purbeck Folk Festival (aka Purbeck Valley Folk Festival) and also teach the children of Pamphill school in the run up to Wimborne Minster Folk Festival.

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We are DANCING OUT generally on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:30pm. Check our events page for details on where to find us.

Practice will resume in September at our practice hall:
St John's Heatherlands, 378A Ashley Road, Poole, BH14 9DQ

More information on the venue.