Online version of article first published in the July 08 issue of Folk Monthly, and last updated in March 2026. Thanks to Bob Taberner and John Pitcock for advice
Traditional dancing is a very sociable activity and great fun. If you’ve never tried it, the best place to start is a public barn dance or ceilidh – for example the regular ones in Derby (the Ceilidh Club and the Mumpers), or Leicester ( Red Fox Ceilidhs) or at a folk festival. Some folk festivals have workshops for beginners, and there are also some “keep-fit evening classes” on a weekly basis like barn dance fitness (currently running in Hall Green and Stirchley).
If you’ve already got the bug then you could try a folk dance club. Contact the organisers first to see if they welcome beginners, and be prepared to partner an experienced club member at first.
There are some excellent folk dance listings on the internet. One of the best is the EFDSS Folk Dance Calendar. There is a regional map with links at Are you dancing?, and Webfeet has a powerful search engine.
Morris dancing : a database of all things morris
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society has branches in Birmingham, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicester, Nottingham, Leamington Spa, Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton
The Irish Set Dancing website has a calendar which lists events by region including Britain
Breton and French Dance – monthly in Alvechurch , Coventry and Ockbrook (near Derby)
American Square Dancing – the British Association of American Square Dance Clubs. Their website includes a list of Midlands clubs with an indication of level.
American Contra Dancing at Alcester Contras
Society for International Folk Dancing – associated clubs meet regularly in Buxton, Derby, Wollaton, Mapperley, Birmingham and Solihull.
If you think learning to dance while on holiday is a good idea, try Folk Camps or the Circle Dance Network, which has links to regional contacts, the annual Easter Gathering and circle dance holiday camps and residentials.
Trad Arts Team 