Highland dance group in search of stolen swords

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/02/2016 (3854 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A local highland dance group is searching for Scotland the Knave after several of its dance swords were stolen last weekend.

The Ena Sutton Highland Dancers of Winnipeg, who use the imitation swords as part of their dance routines, had five of their nine swords stolen during a vehicle break-in on Sunday.

Deb Holmberg, the group’s costume director, said they are hoping someone returns the swords.

“If not, we’ll have to replace the swords because without them it limits the number of dancers we can use,” Holmberg said on Tuesday.

“If we can’t find ones to match them we will have to replace all nine of them. That will mean we will have to buy nine pairs of right and left swords because we only dance with the right ones.”

Holberg said each pair costs up to $180.

The swords were stored in a gun case emblazoned with the logo for the highland dance group. The group has used the same swords for more than 25 years.

Holberg said the swords weren’t the only items taken, but within 100 metres of the scene of the crime the thief or thieves dropped the 15 kilts they also initially stole into the snow.

Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen confirmed police have received a report of a break-in to a parked unattended vehicle.

“Contents stolen included dance costumes including several dance, not sharp, swords,” Michalyshen said.

“Some items have been recovered.”

Michalyshen said no arrests have been made and the investigation continues.

Holmberg said thousands of Winnipeggers have seen the swords in action.

“We used them during the Robbie Burns week celebrations and every year we dance with them at the Scottish Pavilion at Folklorama,” she said.

“It’s a big loss. We hope someone decides to return them.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca