A ceilidh or ceili (both pronounced 'kay-lee') is a social event with Scottish (ceilidh) or Irish (ceili) folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling. At one of our ceilidhs you will get involved in traditional dances (with instruction, otherwise known as 'calling') and be entertained with traditional tunes in between.

Ceilidh dances (also known as set dances or country dances) generally involve couples (occasionally 3's or 4's) formed into a circle or longways set, square set, couple/two couple set etc. The building blocks of the dances are moves such as left/right hand turn, left/right hand star, two hand turn (swing) and do-si-do, as well as circling, galloping, casting-off, promenading, grand chain movements etc.

The origin of these traditional dances goes back quite a few centuries, evolving to result in the inter-related traditions of Scottish ceilidh, Irish ceili, English & American barndance/hoedown, Welsh Tympath etc. There are more similarities than differences and some dances are found in more than 1 tradition, such as the Virginia Reel. There are also ceilidh dances created in modern times but based on the traditional moves described above. We usually pick and mix dances from the different traditions - except where otherwise requested and on occasions such as Burns Night. All are social dances - for groups of dancers, working collaboratively to carry out the dance pattern. We do not provide individual-based dances such as American line dancing - sorry, no Islands in the Stream!

But if it's still not clear what a ceilidh is after all that, we can assure you, it's a lot of fun! To join in with or even just to watch, so why not book us and find out for yourself!

We are experienced at working in a variety of different spaces, having played for weddings and parties in village halls, mansions, marquees and boats, as well as a few actual barns!   We will be able to set the band up and adjust dances as necessary to provide a fun evening of dancing, whatever the size and shape of the venue.

If you are in the process of selecting a venue, we recommend you look for a square or rectangular dance area with no obstructions or trip-hazards.

Ideally the band need a space at least 3m wide by 2m deep plus space to the front on each side for our two PA speaker stands (approximately 1m squared for each). We recommend a stage is provided for the band if possible - this allows the band, and particularly the dance caller, to be seen and offers some protection to our sound equipment and instruments from the exuberance of the dancers. The caller usually needs to be able to get onto the dance floor to help set up the dancers, so a low stage is best, or front steps for higher stages.

To calculate the optimum dance floor size we suggest you allow 1 square metre of space per person likely to dance at any one time. Usually space will be needed around the dance area for chairs and possibly tables, for people watching/dancers to retreat to for a break. For maximum enjoyment it is worth trying to match the size of your venue to the number of expected guests - too small a dance floor and dancers could be restricted in their movements and risk injuries from tripping over/bumping into surrounding furniture; too big a space can result in a lack of atmosphere.

A wooden floor is best for dancing. However a portable disco dance floor laid over carpet is usually not large enough for ceilidh dancing and can cause people to trip as they dance over the edges, so it may be better to go without. For marquees on a lawn, some form of flooring is usually needed, at least for the band, with hard flooring being preferable to matting (as this is usually made up of separate pieces tacked together, dancers easily catch their feet in the loose joins and fall).

All dances are fully explained with clear instructions by the caller - firstly a 'walk-through' without the music then calling continues whilst the band plays, until the dancers have no further need for guidance (usually after 3 or 4 times through).  We intersperse dances with tune sets, so dancers can enjoy a drink and catch their breath! 

We don't get hung up on what the difference is, say, between 'ceilidh' and 'barn dance' (you probably won't notice any), we just aim to do fun dances you'll enjoy. But if you'd like a focus on a particular tradition or style, or to include any specific dances, just ask. For instance, we can provide a whole evening of traditional Scottish ceilidh - Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow (Orcadian and/or normal variants), Cumberland Square Eight, Canadian (Highland) Barn Dance etc.

Typically we might start with Buttered Peas (a simple Northumbrian dance for 2 couple sets where you and your partner dance with a different couple each time) and Virginia Reel (a longways set dance popular in both Scottish & English traditions). Common dances to end the evening with are Riverside Jig (a modern Scottish dance) and Circassian Circle (a traditional way to end Scottish ceilidhs; for weddings we have a customised variant that features the bridal couple in the middle of the circle).

In a typical booking of 3 hours with a 30 minute break halfway through, or 2 hours without a break, there is usually time for 8 to 10 dances - as a rule of thumb, allow 15 minutes per dance (including the time to get dancers onto the dance floor and arranged into sets).

We have experience of running successful dances with both novice & experienced adult dancers, children of all ages, adults with special needs or with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, as well as the occasional celebrity (ask us and we'll name drop!) - almost everyone can join in and we'd encourage them to do so! Although the dancing can be almost as fun when watching as taking part, they are social dances and anyone who who wants to give it a go can usually be included in at least some dances, with accommodation by their partner and others in the dance set as necessary.

• Children from school age upwards can usually take part in their own right - ideally with an adult partner until the age of 9 or so.

• Younger children or others unable to take part as an individual (such as adults with a learning disability) can tag along with a parent/carer, turning a couple into a trio - you will need to adapt your moves but it can be done and still have fun!

• If you are in a wheelchair or have reduced mobility, we'd say do what you can and don't worry about the rest. It's best to check in with the caller in advance as some dances will be more suitable than others but our usual first dance (Buttered Peas) and last dance (Circassian Circle variant) are great for being able to include everyone who wants to take part

If you are a physically able adult but usually too self-conscious to dance, do give it a go - after a drink or two if necessary but not too many more! We've had many 'non-dancers' get involved and enjoy themselves - getting it a bit wrong just adds to the general fun and it's even more satisfying when you do get the hang of it! Which is bound to happen eventually as the pattern of each dance is repeated anywhere from 5 to 9 or more times through. You will also get more familiar with the 'building block' moves, (right hand/left hand/two hand turns etc) with each dance you do.

Whilst many ceilidh/barn dances are for couples, which would traditionally be formed of a man and a woman, the band's caller is very experienced with using dance instructions that don't refer to gender, for these more modern times when couples are often friends or partners of the same sex, or non-binary / gender-nonconforming.

A dance like Strip the Willow can be easier for dancers to understand when there is a line of men facing women (so they cross to the correct opposite line), but it is just as easy to refer to lines of As and Bs as lines of men and women. Or, "insides" and "outsides" when dancers are side by side facing round in a double circle (such as in the Gay Gordons). This is what the caller will usually do but if it is particularly important to you that gender is not mentioned at all, please make us aware either in advance or when we arrive. Often the traditional male-female dance positions are mentioned, in case there are people who would like to stick with traditional roles, e.g. so men tend to dance with women, rather than other men.

There are a variety of 'first dance' options that we have provided for previous weddings and we are happy to work with you to ensure that you get the start to the evening that you want.

A popular option is for the bride and groom to have their first dance to a track of music that you provide on a smartphone or other MP3 player and we play through our PA. This would usually be at the time we are booked to start the ceilidh then we go into the first ceilidh dance straight away after, whilst everyone is still on the dance floor. The band do not play cover versions of popular songs and would not recommend this in any case for choreographed first dances, as the timing is likely not to be exactly the same as the version you have practiced to.

Another common option is to go straight into the first ceilidh dance with everyone - usually Buttered Peas where you stay with your partner throughout (e.g. bride & groom together) but mix up each time through to dance with different other couples. However we can do a different first ceilidh dance by request - the Gay Gordons being an example of a first dance we have been asked for before. If the bridal party do not need instruction, we can do a few times through for them, then stop and explain the dance/do a walkthrough to allow everyone else to join in.

Unless otherwise requested we usually finish with a customised version of Circassian Circle that features the bridal couple in the middle of the circle, which is a lovely way for guests to pay tribute at the end of the evening. We can also help arrange guests into pairs to make an arched tunnel for the two of you to progress through, to enter the room (e.g. to cut the cake) or to leave at the end of the evening. Or if you have any other ideas, just ask!