Take your partner by the hand . . .
IT may not have the glitz, glamour and TV exposure of ballroom but another type of dancing is packing them in at Waring Green Community Centre and attracting a growing following.
Ryburn 3 Step's monthly barn dances moved to Brighouse about four years ago and the combination of traditional folk dancing, lively and dynamic bands and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere is attracting support from a wide area.
The dances or ceilidhs are held on the third Saturday of the month and regularly attract between 70 and 100 pairs of nimble feet.
One of the organisers Sue Coe said: "The capacity is really 100 because you do need a bit of space for ceilidh dancing. We get a lot of families coming along and people of all ages from seven to 90. It is a lot of fun. The dances are easy to pick up and because you don't just dance with the same partner, there is a very sociable atmosphere."
Ryburn 3 Step is an independent folk development project based in Ripponden which organises folk nights, dances and workshops. The barn dances used to be held in the Ryburn Rooms, Ripponden, but when the building was developed for flats in 2002, a new home was sought. After a short spell at Mytholmroyd Community Centre, the barn dances found a welcoming new home at Waring Green.
Sue, who regularly 'calls' at the ceilidhs, said: "I had visited Waring Green Community Centre before and had an idea it might be suitable. So I brought the other members along and they all fell in love with the place. It has one of the finest sprung dance floors in Calderdale and is ideal for our purposes.
"Obviously having to move was difficult and we lost a few of our supporters from the Lancashire side of the Pennines along the way but, since we've been at Waring Green, we've picked up more dancers from West Yorkshire."
As Sue explains, no special equipment is needed for ceilidh dancing except for comfortable shoes – rather than stilettos – and a lot of energy. "But like ballroom or any other other sort of dancing for that matter, ceilidh dancing keeps you fit and healthy and it certainly puts a smile on your face.
"We have a motto that explains the appeal of ceilidh dancing – if you're getting it wrong, you're having fun; if you're having fun, then you're getting it right. It really is difficult to really get it wrong. The caller is there to help the dance along and help participants know what to do next."
Last month dancers at Waring Green took part in a nationwide event, the Big National Ceilidh, to raise money for the charity WaterAid. Dancers in cities, towns and villages across the country joined in and at 10pm on October 18, all the bands played the same tune 'Jamie Allen'. At Waring Green the music for the event came from the Black Box Band with Steve Harrison on melodeons and mouth organ, Chris Coe on hammered dulcimer, Alice Jones on piano, Chris Partington on fiddle and calling by Sue Coe and Pauline Jones.
"The theme of the evening was 'think globally, dance locally'. WaterAid does fantastic work by giving the world’s poorest people access to safe water and we were glad to be part of it.”
The Christmas ceilidh is always one of the most popular events in the calendar. The six-piece folk and jazz outfit Steamchicken have become regulars and will be in action again at Waring Green on December 20. Also coming up on November 15 are the In and Out Band from the north-east of England and Sweet Liberty on January 17. Further ahead a visit from the popular Pixie Band from Dartmoor is planned for April.
“Our gigs have gained a reputation as a friendly place to play and, though we usually feature northern bands, the Pixie Band are coming up from Devon because they had heard about what we're doing,” said Sue.
Also helping is the new folk revival with artists like Eliza Carthy, Kate Rusby and Seth Lakeman finding a new generation of fans and boosting enthusiasm for music which is part of England’s heritage .
“Ceilidh dancing might not get the TV exposure of ballroom dancing but every weekend all over the country people are getting together and dancing to the music of live bands and having a good time,” said Sue.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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