The use of the word 'rapper' in relation to English folk dancing takes a bit of getting used to, as does the stripy socks, shiny waist sashes and assortment of characters dressed in top hat and tails, short skirts and random bits of fake leopard print. In this world, clog dance meets music, theatre, stand up comedy and a lot of beer.

For those not already acquainted with the form, Rapper dance is a sort of Goth North Eastern cousin of Morris dancing with origins in the mining communities of Durham and Northumberland. Instead of the classic Morris white trousers and brightly coloured skirts, bells and beads your hardcore Rapper wears a lot of black and they dance with swords (the rappers). Not the long pointed kind - it's not Dungeons and Dragons - but short, flat, flexible steel blades with handles at both ends.

Five people (men, women or a mixture of both) clog dance to an Irish or Northumbrian jig tune (6/8 time) in an unbroken chain for up to seven minutes. The dancers weave in and out of one another twisting the swords to form locks and breastplates, sometimes jumping or somersaulting over the blades. Each dance ends with the swords locked in the shape of a star that is held up to the audience. It is a fast and physical display demanding skill and practice and the performers can and do injure themselves which makes it a bit more edgy than your average folk dance.

The surprise is that so many women are now drawn to this form. They participated in early Newcastle competitions in small numbers, but the 20th century revival of folk dance didn’t explicitly encourage women to take up Rapper dancing and it has remained a male stronghold in what is still a predominantly patriarchal folk culture. However, things have changed (apologies to those folkies for whom change is a bit of a swear word) in the last twenty years. Rapper has become much more popular with women (the first women’s side Gift Rapper from Sheffield danced from 1987) and although initially encountering opposition female Rapper sides have grown in number. In this year’s tournament there were both mixed (4) and all female teams (10) out of a total of 29 competing sides including 2 from Boston, USA.

The Nottingham DERT was also skilfully organised and managed by a local female side; Whip the Cat Rappers. The Premier prizes were won, and deservedly so, by mens’ sides; Stone Monkey Sword, Newcastle Kingsmen and Dorset Buttons, for their fast, exciting and thunderous displays of strength, timing and clog thumping. But despite such fierce competition three women’s sides, Pengwyn, Short Circuit (known to their fans as Short Skirt Kit) and Blackadder have all won Premier prizes in other events and by the look of the emerging female talent at DERT 2007 this trend is set to continue.

March 9th-11th
Daytime Tournament Venues: 8 Nottingham pubs
Evening Showcase: Canalhouse Bar

Comment (0) Send to friend Print Add to Facebook Socialise