strathspey@strathspey.org:52611

Fiona Grant

No more sword dances?

June 2, 2008, 10:48 p.m. (Message 52611)

Hello to all, but especially British citizens, 

The proposed UK Violent Crimes Reduction Bill may be admirable in many ways,
but as it stands the purchase and use of swords in traditional dances may be
banned. Such dances in the British Isles since as far back as 1700s have
been known to use props such as sticks and swords as an essential part of
the dance.

Currently, the government does not recognize dance as either a Historical
re-enactment or sporting activity and therefore dancers are not included
within the exemption for the purchase and use of swords with regards to the
VCR bill. These dances are forms of art that are of great historical and
cultural relevance. Banning the purchase and use of these swords is to my
mind completely ridiculous, as I know of no occasion when such swords have
been used in violent crime.

If you are resident in the UK, please have a look at this petition to the
Prime Minister on the Downing Street website. 

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dancers

Highland dances just will not look the same without swords, and where will
the Morris men be without their sticks to whack. If Gordon Brown owns up to
his Scottish heritage, we might hope he won’t deprive us of using real
swords to dance over, but I would not put money on it. Please sign the
petition if you are a British resident, or an ex-pat in an overseas
territory. And please pass on the news to any members of your dance groups.

On with the dance,
Fiona
Bristol
UK