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Well, first of all, what is the difference between a Ceilidh, a Twmpath, and a Barn Dance? Several theories exist, but this is mine. It's all essentially the same thing - dancing for fun. Barn Dances tend to be a little more reserved than Ceilidhs - the band maybe of a more conventional line-up, sometimes sitting on the stage, and playing mainly traditional tunes. Some people associate Barn Dances with American style hoe-downs, which are more like Country & Western events, but a British barn dance uses mainly British country dance tunes. A Ceilidh is generally regarded to be a more lively affair, with a few songs and tunes maybe thrown in. Ceilidh bands usually stand (or even dance!) on the stage, the tunes are frequently self-penned or up-tempo arrangements of traditional tunes, and the sound is a bit more 'electric'. There are some that say the word Ceilidh can only be used to describe a traditional Scottish or Irish event - each to their own, but I, and many others, say the tradition and language is continually evolving and the word is now widely used throughout the British Isles to describe a lively folk/country/barn/twmpath dance A Twmpath in Wales might use more traditional Welsh Tunes and Dances, but is essentially the same as a Ceilidh in spirit. All the above variations are great fun, the dances themselves are similar, it's just a matter of personal choice.
I concentrate on the British Ceilidh style of dance. If you want an American hoe-down, don't book me. If you want an Irish evening, don't book me. But if you want to have a lively, fun dance then get in touch. I use dances that I know, with over 30 years of experience, will be within the ability of total newcomers, and yet interesting enough for people who have danced before, but the programme is very flexible and can be adapted to any occasion.
The format of an evening is obviously up to you. Generally speaking, I would perform two 60-75 minute sets with perhaps a half-hour interval inbetween (often used to serve a buffet , cut a cake, etc.). If you want a longer dance content, I would recommend employing the services of a full band. I usually do two dances in a row and then give the audience a longer rest of 3-4 minutes - I find this works well, it gives people chance to rest, have a chat, get a drink etc. I will (unless we know we have an expert audience!) start off with easier dances to give people confidence, and learn a few terms, conventions etc., but soon, I will have everyone on the dance floor, working up a sweat! The emphasis is always on making it fun, though - I don't mind if you go wrong or fall over, and I try to get as many people involved as possible. I am also fully experienced in using gender-neutral calling if required.
My calling to recorded music, or playing as a duo with my partner Jan, is aimed at the smaller event, up to 30-40 or so participants, but I can put you in touch with full bands for larger events.
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