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.

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 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.