Earsdon Sword Dance

The Earsdon Sword Dance is a traditional English folk dance performed by the Royal Earsdon Sword Dancers. They are based in Earsdon, Northumberland, a village about 2 miles (3 km) from the resort town of Whitley Bay.

The Earsdon dance company is one of the oldest sword dance teams in the country with a history dating back to before the 17th century. Since 1829 they have traditionally performed each Christmas for the Dukes of Northumberland at Alnwick Castle. The persons in the team are a Tommy (or Captain) and Bessy (a man dressed as a female) character, five dancers, and a musician who plays the fiddle. The seven performers wear a bright costume whilst the fiddler may wear his normal clothes.

The swords used are two handled swords, the flexible blades of which are approximately twenty-four inches (609 mm) in length and one and one eighth inches (29 mm) in width.