VIDEO: Dancing pirates down at boat club

Dancing pirates have been practicing their steps ahead of an exclusive debut performance.
AHOY THERE: Members of the South Pennine Boat Club are having a pirate-themed open day on Saturday and Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will be performing the Handspike Dance. (D537C317)AHOY THERE: Members of the South Pennine Boat Club are having a pirate-themed open day on Saturday and Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will be performing the Handspike Dance. (D537C317)
AHOY THERE: Members of the South Pennine Boat Club are having a pirate-themed open day on Saturday and Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will be performing the Handspike Dance. (D537C317)

Members of the South Pennine Boat Club have choreographed a brand new routine they are calling the Handspike Dance.

It combines country dancing, morris dancing and break-dancing, and dancers carry handspikes.

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The handspikes are normally used to work the locks along the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

AHOY THERE: Members of the South Pennine Boat Club are having a pirate-themed open day on Saturday and Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will be performing the Handspike Dance. (D537C317)AHOY THERE: Members of the South Pennine Boat Club are having a pirate-themed open day on Saturday and Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will be performing the Handspike Dance. (D537C317)
AHOY THERE: Members of the South Pennine Boat Club are having a pirate-themed open day on Saturday and Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will be performing the Handspike Dance. (D537C317)

But on Saturday, boat club members Hipless Jon, Marlin Spike, Fearless Frank, Ken Bear-Paaark, Pete Two-Names and Captain Grey Beard will don their best pirate gear and give the first public performance of the Handspike Dance.

Above, you can see a video of the group practicing, filmed by Reporter photographer Jake Oakley.

You’ll be able to see the dance in real life at the South Pennine Boat Club rally open day this Saturday, May 4.

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The event takes place at the club’s base in Huddersfield Road, Battyeford, Mirfield, 11am-5pm.

Other activities will include a children’s best-dressed pirate competition, a pirate ship bouncy castle, boat trips along the canal, live music, a duck race, craft stalls and a real ale bar.

Visit www.southpennineboatclub.co.uk.