Origins of Term Sandancers

[janwbay]

Hi there

I lived across the water in North Shields for many years, and always thought that the nickname 'Sandancers' was given to people from South Shields because it has a large Arab population.

Can you tell me if I am right or wrong, and what is the actual reason please?

Thank you very much.

regards
Janice

[eddieg]

My gran used to tell me that she used go to dances at the marsden grotto where they used to dance on the sand in the caves.

[martymont]

I answered this earlier my reply was that sunderland was one of the leading glassmakers in the country and the sand And South Shields was some of the best for making glass, the sand was screeded and any big lumps were crushed under foot (the same way as crushing chalk) and from a distance looked like they were dancing. Hope this helps

[Mr Smith]

There are many reasons given for the name Sanddancer. The truth is
that no one really knows the true origin of the word. Take your pick
of what you want to believe; who knows you may pick the right one.

[brian c]

I answered this earlier my reply was that sunderland was one of the leading glassmakers in the country and the sand And South Shields was some of the best for making glass, the sand was screeded and any big lumps were crushed under foot (the same way as crushing chalk) and from a distance looked like they were dancing. Hope this helps

There used to be a glass works down near the Customs House where the low staithes were.

[Mr Smith]

On one of my old maps Brian, there were glass works and brick work
all over the town as it was then.

[jimmywizz]

you can still by glass objects sold on ebay that are over 100 years old made at glass works from south shields

[eddieg]

My mams got a glass bowler hat and a couple of glass dumps made from shields glass.

[eddieg]

I answered this earlier my reply was that sunderland was one of the leading glassmakers in the country and the sand And South Shields was some of the best for making glass, the sand was screeded and any big lumps were crushed under foot (the same way as crushing chalk) and from a distance looked like they were dancing. Hope this helps

There used to be a glass works down near the Customs House where the low staithes were.

That was Cooksons Glass works at the Milldam. Charles Palmer had an interest in it at one time.

[andysfootball]

south shields used to be a lot hotter

so hot the sand on the beach was too hot too walk on

without doing a strange dance to your beach towel

al gore used this as climate change evidence

in an inconvenient truth

[ralph]

I was always told that it was the result of the many seamen from around the Yemen area that settled in the town during the the early 20th Century. If my memory serves me correctly wasn't there a music hall act at about that time, possibly called 'The Sand Dancers' where two men dressed in 'Egyptian' costumes and did a 'sand-shuffle' dance? It could be the link.

[Mr Smith]

If my memory serves me correctly wasn't there a music hall act at about that time, possibly called 'The Sand Dancers' where two men dressed in 'Egyptian' costumes and did a 'sand-shuffle' dance? It could be the link.

That's right Ralph, the act appeared on TV as well (whether it was the original
act or not I'm not sure) in its early days I saw them several times myself and of
course they appeared in the music halls most of all.

This is another story of how the name Sanddancers came about. Whether it is true
or not I have no idea, and I don't think anyone can say with any real conviction what
the true origin is.

We have discussed this topic on these boards many times over and it has always
ended with the conclusion "we don't really know". The only sure thing is that we
are now well and truly stuck with the name "SANDDANCERS"

[jeff]

I believe the Music Hall act was Wilson , Betty and Keppel

Jeff

[Mr Smith]

I believe the Music Hall act was Wilson , Betty and Keppel

Jeff

They are the ones, and they are the one's I saw on the TV many a time, but
that was about fifty years ago. They were around doing their act from just
mostly late 1940s to about 1960 or a little earlier. So the question is, how
long ago were we first called Sanddancers? if it was before those dates then
that rules them out of the equation. I only heard of the name "Sanddancer"
for the first time with reference to people of South Shields in 1990, I don't
recall any of my older family members ever using the term.

[jeff]

Should have been Wilson Keppel and Betty. Apparently over the years although Wilson and Keppel kept going there were at least 8 different Bettys during the period that their act was performed.

Reference in Wikipedia "The people of South Shields are popularly referred to as Sand Dancers with reference to this act".

Jeff

[Mr Smith]

Reference in Wikipedia "The people of South Shields are popularly referred to as Sand Dancers with reference to this act".
Jeff

Wikipedia is not 100% reliable, I looked at urban dictionary and it gives more
than one explanation as to the origin of the name Sandancer. Like I said earlier,
take your pick, any one of the explanations could be correct it's something I
don't think we will ever be sure of 100%. It makes an interesting topic of conversation
though, doesn't it.

[eddieg]

And here they are!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxAr66vtUoQ

[janwbay]

Well thank you to you lovely South Shields people for all the information you have given me.

As you say, there are a lot of reasons to choose from and I suppose we will never know.

Thanks very much.
Janice

[memor]

Below is a post I did some time ago explaining where the term Sand dancers comes from.

After I posted this I got told off by "The Great Seaweed" Leader of the group that still worship at low tide for telling people the truth.

I will not be silenced !.

I will bare the poison pen whelks they push through my letter box and someone again will daub my wall with the word "CRABS"

The people must be told.

(Happy as Shields folk

Comes from the fact that Shields folk seldom got Tuberculosis or Rickets.

and Sand Dancers comes from the time when most Shield folks worshipped Sea Gods like Neptune and Oceanis and would dance on the Sands when the tide was out.

Also they were very happy they could dance because they didn't have TB or Rickets.

I hope this answers your question.)

[martymont]

Memor question the gods Neptune and Oceanus were Roman gods and they danced when the tide went out what did they do before the Romans came and where they called Sandancers before the conquest or after when the Romans saw them dancing on the sand.