Invited to a Ceilidh

[iluvcatz]

Don't know if this is the right category for this question. I have been invited to a Ceilidh next week, what sort of dancing do they do at these do's? Is it a type of country dancing I remember from my school days?

[kazminx]

this should be a scottish theme with lots of scottish country dancing. brilliant night out, great laugh, very very hot and sticky so wear sensible clothes and shoes. be prepared to be whisked off your feet all night. hope you enjoy.

[iluvcatz]

Thanks so much kazminx!

[kazminx]

where is it by the way?? im in scotland and ive hardly been to any!!!

[SaxyJag]

Ceilidh is an Irish name for a very informal session of song and dance, where anyone can join in. However in recent years it seems to have become a catch-all phrase for any form of British Isles traditional song/dance event.

I would hazard a guess that, if you're in England, it'll be similar to the one I went to yesterday afternoon. It was really just a load of very simple traditional English figures (cut down versions of 'real' dances), not unlike the country dancing we did at school (where you strip the willow, duck and dive, swing and rant and such like). You usually have a caller and you get to walk through the dances before they start the music. Occasionally they'll do the more simple Scottish dances - Dashing White Sergeant, for instance - as well. Doesn't matter if you don't know what to do. If you get lost, you just hold out a hand and wait for someone to grab it.

It's a lot of fun, but very hot, exhausting work, so be warned. ;-)

[SaxyJag]

My apologies - Scottish word too, although the first time I heard it was with an Irish connection.

[iluvcatz]

Well kazminx, sorry but it is in England.

[iluvcatz]

How can I stop getting too red in the face, when I do it takes ages to calm down, I feel like a beacon, very embarrasing. I don't want to wear geisha make-up!

[nickmo]

TAK' YOUR PARTNER BY THE HAND, YEE HAAAA . . !

http://www.scottishdance.net/scd/tips/Etiquett e.html

Enjoy it - everyone else will be sweatty and red so just get on with it - drink lots, grab loads of folk and run amok vaguely in line with the rest - normal night at a ceileidh

Love the comment on the link 'You can put other dancers off by doing embellishments' Just Brilliant! Thats the point ! Now, back to Radio Hebridean and just time to comb my beard, stoke the peat fire and knit a Shetland woolly.....

[rhona_j]

Ooh, I'm jealous, you'll have a fab time. Hopefully there will be a 'caller', who'll call out the steps, for the first time through the dance, it means anyone can take part, without ever having done country dancing at school. And if you did do them at school, you'll be amazed at how all the steps come flooding back to you. Be prepaired for the Orcadian Strip the Willow, they can get really wild, but so much fun!
Wear loose, light clothes, drink lots of water and have a brill time!

[kazminx]

Well enjoy yourself...i just thought if it was near me i would get a ticket!!! Dont worry by the way..everyone will be sweaty with a red face!!!! enjoy.