Sallyport

Sallyport Sword Dancers: Rooted in the North East’s sword dancing traditions for more than 50 years, Sallyport are based  on Tyneside in Swalwell where, in 1910, Cecil Sharp saw rapper sword dancing for the first time. They perform only ‘traditional’ dances and are guardians of the Newbiggin tradition in particular, having researched and resurrected several figures from century-old sources. Also amongst their favourites is the unusual longsword dance from Poppleton, near York, which uses wooden swords.