What is a Ceilidh?
“Ceilidh” is the Gaelic term for a social evening in Scotland, with dancing, singing,
reciting, making music and anything else that constitutes entertainment. More and
more it has focused on the dancing – ceilidhs being common at wedding receptions
and birthday parties in Scotland, and ceilidh clubs in all the main centres.
What is the Cape Town Ceilidh Club?
We are trying to inculcate a culture of ceilidh in Cape Town and have started holding ceilidhs at various venues. At the Cape Town Ceilidh Club’s events we always assume that everyone is a beginner. You are invited on to the floor and you are shown how to do the first dance. Then it is walked through, to ensure that everyone (even those with two left feet!) have grasped the essentials. The music starts and dancing happens! It is as easy as that. At the end of the dance there is usually spontaneous shouts and clapping as everyone realises that they have been able to do the dance and really enjoyed it.
From there it is all downhill as we slowly expand the repertoire of dances and people learn things like “casting”, “right hands across”, “back-to-back” and “arches”. Footwork is optional and most people just skip along in a way that suits them. We take a break after about an hour to let people catch their breath, have a snack, a drink and a chat, and then we continue until everyone has had enough. There is a Scottish flavour to all of this, but you don’t have to be Scottish, speak Gaelic, or enjoy Billy Connolly (or even Rod Stewart) to enjoy ceilidh dancing.
How to join?
Follow our social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, for details of any upcoming ceilidhs. Once advertised, tickets will be available through Quicket.
