Southport Swords specialise in longsword dances, which come from Yorkshire. They involve a team of six men, and the dance ends with a sword lock which represents the rising sun. The Southport Swords do figures one to five of the North Skelton tradition. However, the Southport Swords also do figure six which they developed themselves from the North Skelton tradition involving their unique triangular lock. The Southport Swords also do Cotswold Morris dances, the Papa Stour sword dance and Rapper sword dances.

The Southport Swords were established in 1968 and over the years have expanded their list of dances to include not just sword dances, but Morris also. These lively and energetic Cotswold Morris dances come from Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire and are performed with handkerchiefs or sticks.

The Papa Stour sword dance comes from the Shetland Isles and involves seven men each representing one of the seven champions of Christendom. Rapper sword dances come from County Durham and Northumberland. The dances used flexible swords in movements that are fast and spectacular.

The word Rapper was introduced into this country in the sixteenth century and was used to describe a light and narrow cut and thrust weapon. However, the modern Rapper sword is a short and flexible sword with a handle at each end, so that there is no difference between the hilt and the point.