Can I in one Shyla activation:

• spend 1 action to whip/attack
• Then spend 1 action to do a regular attack
• exhaust Swords Dance to do another attack (with one less die)

I would say yes, as Swords Dance isn’t a special action, only strain cost to do the attack and wouldn’t count toward the 2 action attack limit.

But want to be 100% sure of this.

thanks!

There is no two action attack limit. (Only two action(point)s per activation.) Heroes can perform any number of attacks during their activation or outside of it.

Swords Dance can be used (immediately) after any melee attack Shyla performs, doesn't even need to be during her activation.