I totally missed this what with the thousand plus emails in my inbox ^_^;; WUPS

The swords used by bladedancers are not like lightsabers, they are actual swords, metal and all. They are slightly "magical" when they glow, although I am actually going with a technological explanation for that (just don't ask me to tell you what that is!) So unless they are set to glow, they are just like normal everday swords. Except, you know, being made in a certain style and a certain way. :D