Issue 2416: The Jacobite Sword Dance

Object

The Jacobite Sword Dance (Dance)

Submitter

Stephen Webb (SJW)

Assigned to

Viktor Lehmann

Priority

Normal

Disposition

Fixed

Description

Firstly the name is prefixed with the definite article. This dance was not devised by Mrs MacNab - she wasn’t a deviser or publisher but an arranger and choreographer. It was published in 1961 in a leaflet by her niece Mrs Elizabeth Sutorius for her aunt along with The Huntly Reel and McKenzie of Seaforth in separate leaflets. Three strathspey steps (16+16+32b) + one reel-time step (40b) for two dancers Please also add in Extra Info. In the manuscript it states: A Traditional Scottish Sword Dance of 17th Century I think this is an error an should be 18th Century because it goes on to say This dance has its name from the Jacobites, the followers of Bonnie Prince Charlie who, during the Scottish rebellion of 1745, attempted to regain the throne of Scotland for the Stuart’s. Following defeat of their plans, they fled to France and during their exile there, are said to have developed this dance. The steps and style of the Seann Triubhas (from the same era) with those of the traditional sword dance are combined to form an unusually interesting dance. The dance was collected and revived by Mrs MacNab in Ontario, Canada, in 1917. It had been danced in Perth, Scotland, by Athol Stewart who later emigrated to South Africa. Many thanks

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