Next Friday, 13th of May, David Vivanco, who comes from Scotland, will give us a workshop about the history and culture of Scotland and he will teach us some traditional dances too!
Listen to the song we will sing together here:
I’m gonna do it all some day (Here are the lyrics for the song)
WHAT IS A CEILIDH? (pronounced ‘Kay-lee’)
A céilidh is the traditional Gaelic dance in Scotland, Ireland and Atlantic Canada.
Before discos and nightclubs, there were Céilidhs in most town and village halls.
Céilidhs are very popular in rural parts of Ireland and in Scotland (especially on the west coast where people still speak Gaelic).
It is common for clubs and institutions such as sports clubs, schools and universities to arrange a céilidh. Some mix Scottish music with modern pop music and dances often alternate with songs, poetry, and story telling.
Céilidh music is accompanied by the fiddle (violin), accordion, flute, tin whistle, pipes, bodhrán (Irish drum) and in more recent times by percussion and electric bass guitar. The music is cheerful and lively and the basic steps can be learned easily.
The general format for céilidh dancing is a ‘Set’ (line of couples facing their partners). Square set dances also exist. However, about half of the dances in the modern Scots céilidh are couple dances performed in a ring.
USEFUL VOCABULARY FOR A CEILIDH DANCE
Find a partner / Face to face… / Look at… / Hold hands with…. / Waltz Take your partner in ballroom hold / Lift your arms / Make arches Turn away / Step away / Change places / Drop your hands / Towards Hop /Jump / Stamp / Clap / Step / Side-step / Walk / Pirouette / Swing Turn / Spin / Kick / Spread out / Use all the space / Let go / grip / Hold on
Right / Left hand / Arm / Shoulder / Foot / Heel / Toe / Waist / Back
together / away / in / out / forward / back (wards) / down / up in front / behind / under / over / through / past / round / parallel back where you started / beside / clockwise / anticlockwise / closer
beats (of music) / long line / couple / partner / top / bottom/ nearest / furthest / move along / move round / bigger / smaller
