FARE

Added on 04 August 2025

Ceilidh dancing in Easterhouse!

On Tuesday 29th July a group of volunteer dancers arrived at Oakwood Primary School in Easterhouse to provide support at an hour-long ceilidh session for primary aged children which was part of a summer programme being run by FARE Scotland.  FARE is a charity which works in disadvantaged communities in Central Scotland running activities and providing support to families all year round.  The summer programme has a different theme each year with this year’s being Glasgow 850 so the Branch was approached to run a short session of ceilidh dances towards the end of the school holidays as a kind of celebration.  We had supported a similar event 2 years ago so we were pleased to help out again this year.  Eleven Branch members/supporters plus one accordionist duly arrived to find 60 excited children waiting for them.  Most of those attending, including the FARE staff/helpers, had no experience of Scottish dancing but we managed to get through four dances in the short time we had available.  We started with Circassian Circle where just about everyone present joined in; this was followed by the Canadian Barn Dance, Virginia Reel and the Flying Scotsman with appropriate sound effects! 

       
 As is often the case with any kind of dancing, the girls were much more enthusiastic than the boys about joining in but everyone seemed to have a good time which is the main thing.  Grateful thanks to all my volunteers who demonstrated then partnered or guided the children through the dances and also to Billy Gray who provided our musical accompaniment – the dancing experience and enthusiasm they all brought made my job of calling a lot easier.

     Anne Murray