Ok, so I've always been taught that swords are a western prop, mostly American Cabaret and they are not a part of middle eastern dances, folk or otherwise.
So now I come across this and I don't know what to make of it:
Tunisian tribal belly dance: sword dance (raks al saif) - raqs al juzur (jar dance)
I know that it's become customary to put all kinds of outlandish claims up online regarding the origins of bellydance, but this one actually says that sword dancing is an ancient skill in North Africa and that some tribes brought in sword dancers at weddings for good luck. Uh..... and that it was "seen" in Egypt as early as the 18th century. And finally....that sword dancing was widely spread in Turkey, the Middle East and India.
WHERE are they getting this info? I haven't seen anything anywhere that agrees with this!! And the two dancers in the picture holding swords might well have been dancing for tourists with "western" props. Heck, they might even BE western dancers.
Regards
Priscilla