Dance - Ceilidh

Have you ever tried to ceilidh? Once was enough for me, at a friends-and-family-in-law gathering in Ireland, where everyone else knew all the steps. I lasted a few minutes, turning the wrong way more than was statistically viable, bumping into people I was meant to link arms with, mixing with the wrong crowd. My awkwardness with the situation spiralled out of control, and I ended up a sweaty, dishevelled, demoralised wreck back at my table, nursing a pint of Guinness, vowing ‘never again’. I had hardly covered myself in glory: I swear that the seeds of the demise of my relationship with a lovely Dubliner were sown that day.

That was then, this is now. Gill Emerson specialises in nursing people like me through ceilidhs, whilst satisfying the needs of more experienced dancers. “The idea is for everybody to have a bit of fun,” she says. “There is no pressure at all for beginners to get it right, though one of my strengths as a caller is to help every level to enjoy the occasion.” Music will be provided by four experienced folk musicians: Tom Andrew and Linda Game (from The Fold) on drums and fiddle, Graham Burgess (from the Dayglo Pirates) on keyboards, and Connie Everard (from Zoox) on double bass. “The music will be fantastic,” says Gill: “driving, inspired, rhythmic and bold. We will give the dancers the chance to stretch their legs and their laughing muscles, too.” Never again? I’m actually quite tempted. AL