Sandancer

Sandancer (or "Sanddancer") is a colloquialism used to describe those who come from the town of South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. Residents of South Shields are more often referred to as Geordies, although 'Sandancer' is still used, often as a mildly pejorative term.

Sandancer is considered by some as a racist term derived from the large number of Indian, Yemeni and people from other parts of the Asiatic region who moved to the region between 1920 and 1970. Subsequently the indigenous inhabitants of the region referred to this new influx as sand-dancers, under the misguided assumption that they arrived from desert regions.cite news
author = "Gadfly"
title = Arriva are taking us for a ride
work = The Northern Echo
publisher = Northeast Press
date = October 4, 2006
url = http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/gadfly/display.var.951363.0.arriva_are_taking_us_for_a_ride.php
accessdate = 2007-02-17 ]

Others believe the term derives from Wilson, Keppel and Betty a music hall act who were famous for their "Sanddance". [cite web
author = "Beef Sandwich"
title = Beefy's People of North East Page
publisher = Beef Sandwich World Travels
url = http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/kathmandu/safc/rivalry.htm#SandDancer
accessdate = 2007-02-17 ] Another theory is that the term comes from the South Shields beach, or combination of all three.

A final suggestion is that the name dates from the time coal miners came from the rest of the country to seek work in the local Westoe Colliery, the locals came to be called by this name whereas the non-local miners came to be called "Cowboys".

A full list of famous Sandancers can be found here.

References