Different forms of traditional sword dancing exist in countries ranging from the European nations to India. Longsword dancing with rigid metal swords comes from Yorkshire, in the northeast of England. The first written description of a dance from this area is from 1715.
Theories abound about the actual origins of English sword dancing! Most people will agree, hovever, that these dances were performed at mid-winter and that a town had one dance that they performed. Every dance includes a figure where the swords are locked together to form a star - perhaps symbolizing the sun and encouraging its return!