We have lots of choices of Irish Set Dancing events coming up in spring 2020. As well as our usual weekly and monthly sessions we have some ceilis and dancing weekends with live music both in Devon and further afield.
Halsway Manor
The Irish Set Dancing weekend at Halsway Manor is my biggest event of the year! This is a residential weekend at the beautiful Halsway Manor in the Quantocks, Somerset. We fill the Manor to bursting with Irish dancers and have a fun filled weekend with three ceilis with lovely music from Rise the Dust, my favourite Irish Set Dancing Band. In the day time there are workshops taught by myself, Maggie Daniel, and my good friend Lucy Slemmings.
In between all that there is time for chilling out in the lovely surroundings, walking in the grounds or the hills behind, playing music with each other, or just getting to know the other dancers in the lounge. As it is a residential weekend we all eat together in the dining room, which is a great way to make new friends, and catch up with old ones from previous years. The late night sessions in the bar have become legendary. We have a some very talented musicians and singers who are happy to share their songs and tunes with us late into the evenings.
We round off the weekend with a (mostly) music quiz on the Sunday evening for those who are able to stay that night.
The dates for 2020 are Friday 3rd April till Monday 6th April. All the accommodation in the Manor is booked up for this year already, but there is space for camper vans, and many people also stay in local B and Bs. Some people just come along for the ceilis too, or for just one of the days.
Book directly with Halsway Manor, their details are here.
Basingstoke
The earliest event for me in 2020 will be 20 to 22 March. This is the dancing weekend in Rotherwick, near Basingstoke. The Swallows Tail Ceili Band will be flying over from Ireland to play for us at three ceilis, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. There will be workshops during the day on Saturday and Sunday morning to learn some new dances. The date this year is 20 to 22 March. Have a look at their web site here for more information. This is always a great weekend, with dancers from all over England and several places in Europe attending.
Colyford
The third of our set dancing events in spring 2020 will be a ceili at Colyford Memorial Hall on Sunday 17 May. The Perfect Cure Ceili Band will be coming to play for us in the afternoon as part of their tour of Hampshire, Dorset and Devon. I don’t have details of the other events at the moment, but will add them when I have them.
