According to documents, the Sword Dance dates back to the reign of Malcolm III, who was the King of Scots in the eleventh century. Following battle, he supposedly danced over his bloody claymore (the ancient two-handled sword of Scotland) crossed with the sword of his defeated enemy, or perhaps even over the severed head of his opponent. The Sword Dance was also danced by warriors on the eve of a battle, as a way to predict the result of the upcoming battle. If the dancer touched the sword, he would be wounded the next day, but if the dancer kicked the sword, he would be killed. If a lot of dancers kicked their sword, the clan would lose the battle. In competitions today, if a dancer touches a sword (but not displaces it), the dancer loses five marks. If the dancer displaces the sword, they are disqualified. |