When Cawte was collecting what little evidence there was of the border dance tradition in the 1950s in Shropshire and Herefordshire many of those dances that survived on the edge of living memory were called 'niggering'. From the recollections of very old men looking back over a span of some 60 years, Cawte learned that some involved sticks, some did not. Most involved blacking up.
It was largely from his notes that the modern border 'tradition' was assembled. What we have today is scarcely even a revival but rather a pastiche. It's about as authentic as a renaissance fayre in Southern California.
It's fun, energetic and entertaining, but it's about as 'traditional' as 'The Great Escape' is traditional on Christmas telly.