A Birthday Barn Dance

Another repeat booking. In the Autumn I called for a church anniversary dance in Sale with Bernard Cromarty.

We were invited back for Ken's 70th birthday.

Judging by his cake Ken is a man of many, varied interests, and the guests included people from all parts of his life. All good dancers. We danced some dances I often call.

And some I do less often

I had a request from one of them (identified as a Morris-man by his reaction to Bernard's warm-up tune) for a dance that I usually only call at clubs. Luckily I had noticed that Bernard's tune book included tunes for some dances I had asked him to play when I called with him at Contra club. So we had a quick practise after our supper and they danced Duke of Kent's Waltz in the second half. Managed it very well too.

I think some of the guests were tiring by 10.45, when I was trying to fill the second set for the last dance. Bernard was reminded of a corny joke (you don't just get music from Bernard).
How many ceilidh dancers does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one more couple.

Jan/Feb dance clubs and an 80th birthday

Since the beginning of the year I have danced and called at Stockton Heath, Adlington and Hawk Green clubs.

Each club has a rota of callers so the dancers get variety and callers can research interesting dances suitable for the members. I try to mix gentle dances with lively,  easy and/or familiar dances with newer or more challenging. Though dances are made up of the same building blocks they can be put together in surprising and satisfying ways.

In Feb I also called with Hi Jinks at an 80th birthday. The family were experienced dancers but wanted dances that all the guests could enjoy. So on the whole I kept it fairly simple, we did do the birthday girl's favourite dance - at first I thought she might have been right to think it was too hard, but after a couple of false starts we got there. (Well it would be boring if no-one ever got confused - though I try not to leave everyone completely bewildered.)

January/ February Two events with Forlorn Hope

Before travelling to Stand I spent the morning in Nantwich museum calling some seventeenth century dances as part of Holly Holy day, commemorating the battle of Nantwich.
Less than 2 weeks later I was there again, this time for the Dementia support group. I tried out some 'sitting down dances' as well as a few of the more usual sort.
On both occasions the hurdy gurdies and crumhorns aroused plenty of interest.

January 2019. Burns night again

And the ceilidh at Stand, with Hi Jinks.
I tried out some new dances this year since I knew the regulars would cope.