| Six Jolly Miners sword dance team |
The "Six Jolly Miners" is a dance created by the Grenoside Sword Dancers, a sword dancing team from Sheffield that was formed 200 years ago. Our Six Jolly Miners dance was developed in 2009.
Our dances have six dancers linked by holding the hilt of their own sword and the tip of their neighbour's sword. Patterns are then danced without breaking the links. Our Six Jolly Miners dance features two unique triangular sword locks, and combines many new figures with some of those now missing from the traditional Grenoside dance as it was performed 100 years ago. Back then, the team was a cross section of working men from the local area, most of whom were miners.
The dance is a tribute to those miners, especially the ones who lost their lives in mining disasters. The song "Six Jolly Miners" is a local variation of a song found all over the world. Research suggests that the mention of 'six' miners is a reference to those who lost their lives as a result of the explosion at a pit in Chapeltown, Sheffield, in 1862. It is their names we recite at the beginning of the dance, in honour of all those who lost their lives in this perilous occupation.
We have taken the dance to many local venues, concentrating on mining-related or community-based events, where we can raise awareness of the mining community, and assist fund raising efforts. We have danced at such places as Sheffield, Denaby, Thorpe Hesley, Barnsley, and of course Grenoside and High Green.
