Ceilidh Dancing is great fun - uplifting - energetic, even more fun in a large friendly group. At least one ceilidh a month is nominated as the specific Ceilidh MeetUp and there will be a table reserved for our group with the Meetup Logo sign. You are welcome to **come along on your own** and have some great nights out joining in the dancing, it really is enjoyable, especially with a friendly group. The enthusiasm is infectious. Ceilidhs help keep the dancers fit and healthy.
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**FAQ** We've tried to answer most of the **Frequently Asked Questions** on this ABOUT US of the Ceilidh Meetup website.
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**PAYMENT & TICKETS** PLEASE NOTE you need to **book and PAY for your own tickets direct** with the individual ceilidh organisers for each event. PLEASE also contribute £ towards this Meetup website and administration costs. We much appreciate payments made to the Ceilidh Meetup which help toward the Meetup web fee paid by the organiser to keep this site going - yes we have to pay for this service and someone does all the administration on a voluntary basis so all **contributions are most welcome.** £5 when you join, or £1 per ceilidh is suggested.
**APPRECIATION & THANKS** Thanks to everyone who has come along and enjoyed the events run in recent years. **Thanks in particular to ALL the ceilidh regulars,** dancers who support this group and are such a brilliant fun, welcoming, friendly group. This group *relies on the generosity of many **special people** who are regular dancers* and ***encourage newcomers of all ages and nationalities to join in***.
ITS GREAT TO BE ASKED - A lot of us are quite shy. Everyone is encouraged to ask someone new to dance at each ceilidh - it's great to be asked!
. There will be a group of us at each of the ***monthly Scots Music Group ceilidhs at St Brides***. We get tables reserved for us until 9pm, we may have to remove the reserved sign from the table after that time, so if you're **new, please come along early**. (That's why we state 7:15pm on the night so we can say hello before the music starts.) Please note there are usually Meetup members all round the hall, so numbers shown attending can be LESS than accurate, as some turn up regularly without having this noted on the Meetup site. The average at the regular monthly ceilidh is more than 40 dancers, with often 60 plus in our group so we book several tables. If you don't see the table sign, you can *ask at the door*.
**EXERCISE IS UPLIFTING & HEALTHY** If your New Year's Resolution was to get fit and get out more or do more socially, you can combine these with ceilidh dancing. To quote the OKINAWA WAY - "social contact is known to reduce stress; and exercise decreases the risk of Cancer (Cancer Protective Factor 8)". Everyone learns new dances at ceilidhs as different bands do different sets; meantime, to quote the SMG website “If you’d like to brush up on your ceilidh dancing skills before coming along to one of our ceilidhs, why not drop in to the friendly ceilidh dance classes.” It is relaxing, fun and a great way to keep fit. There is no need to attend beginner classes as most dances are "called" - easy instructions as talked through or demonstrated at the start. Ceilidh dancing is great fun and a very relaxing way to get fit. To quote the **DanceBase** website “Ceilidh Dancing is a great way to have fun, meet new people and experience an integral part of Scottish Culture. .. A chance to learn those traditional dances and join in at the ceilidh. Aimed at socialising through dancing. ***Only those prepared to have fun*** should be there! ... Prepare for a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. *Ceilidh dancing is **possibly the most social of all dances.**”* They have live music and you will have fun. Further details: in the past there were evening classes at Dancebase [https://www.dancebase.co.uk/](https://www.dancebase.co.uk/)
**OTHER CEILIDHS** We hope you will also continue to support lots great fundraising ceilidhs which are promoted (by us or the individual organisers) on the Edinburgh Ceilidh Diary: [https://www.](https://www.mikescommunity.com)**[mikescommun...)**
*__**Event Organisers*** for ceilidhs are kindly asked to ensure their events are scheduled on different dates so we have at least one ceilidh each weekend. In the past, we have had no ceilidhs for several weekends and then a choice of 4 on the same night, 2 on Friday and 4 Saturday - we can't be everywhere at once! **PLEASE** check with [www.MikesCommunity.com/diary](https://www.mikescommunity.com/diary) _ On behalf of the regular dancers who support all your charities by attending the ceilidhs, please check in advance so ceilidhs are spread out on different nights and not all the same evening. The final Saturday of the month is *usually* the SMG St Brides ceilidh, and please check the dates including the first Friday in the month is usually the Canongate Cadjers. **PROMOTIONs**: IF YOU WOULD like Ceilidh Meetup to promote your ceilidh please FIRST make a contribution towards the cost of running Ceilidh Meetup: free admission for the Meetup Organiser plus £1 per head as the organiser pays the web fees to Meetup etc. Please also remember to reserve a table or two for our group.
**Can I tag along? DANCE PARTNERS**. . The Ceilidh Meetup group is a diverse group of folk all keen to dance. You are welcome to ***come along on your own*** and make new friends. It's much more fun to be at a ceilidh with a large group of friendly folk. ***Singles and couples are all welcome,*** some of us have met partners at the ceilidhs. **Please note** this is NOT A DATING SITE; many of us come along to dance WITHOUT BRINGING our partners. All nationalities are welcome: you don't need to speak English - or Scottish, or even understand the Glaswegian accent - to join in the dancing. At all our ceilidhs there will be a caller (DJ): most dances are demonstrated and walked through by the "ceilidh Caller." There are over 11,000 dances so NO-ONE KNOWS THEM ALL, and each band has their own favourites - it helps keep your brain fit to learn something new. All ages are welcome - to quote one lady "my last dance partner at the class was 92!" so you're not too old to learn, keep fit and feel younger.
**What to wear**? We've been asked this question frequently so look at the photos pages here and the photo album on "footwear" or this link for more information [https://www.diyscotland.co.uk/ceilidh-dress-code](https://w...) Generally **comfortable shoes**: **you wouldn't want someone wearing stillettos** to tred **on your foot,** so please don't wear sharp heels on the dance floor (these are barred from some venues including Lauriston Hall). Dancing can be energetic; many of us get quite warm and choose to wear cool clothing or bring a dry t-shirt for later on.
Just a general reminder that when you RSVP for any Meetup events, please keep it positive - Reply YES if going - PLEASE DO NOT REPLY with a NO rsvp unless you initially gave offered to give a car share lift. If all we receive is negative, "not going" then members are removed.
_____ Some ceilidhs you can buy tickets on the door if you are lucky and arrive early (within 30 minutes of the start/doors open time), but it's a good idea to buy your ticket in advance as many ceilidhs sell out and the SMG tickets are cheaper on-line or in advance. There are few venues which are large and tickets are always available at the door, other venues sell out in advance. PAYMENTS paid to this website go towards the Meetup web hosting monthly charge and administration costs: contributions are most welcome and gratefully received - there is a collection tin on the tables at some ceilidhs and we suggest £1 per ceilidh or £12 per year. This group is run entirely by volunteers and your consideration is appreciated. **Newcomers** are advised to arrive early for the start of the ceilidh so we can meet at the table and say hello to one another - and because the logo may have to be taken off the table after 9pm.
.. If you've not visited the site in 6 months and also changed email address, Meetup's automated system takes you off their lists advising the organisers: if all of their emails have been returned as "undeliverable" for at least 6 consecutive months.
HEALTHY BRAINS: To quote from Eat Haggis & Ceilidh On, published by Bookspeed: "Ceilidh - always means having a good time." Research made possible by CT and MRI scanners, proves that exercise helps your brain stay healthy: neurogenesis - physical activity develops brain connections and keeps brains fit and healthy. For more research read Dr John Ratey - SPARK & The Users Guide to the Brain [www.DIYScotland.co.uk].
PHOTOs - This is a social media website, photos are used to show previous events illustrating the healthy enjoyment plus footwear or outfits as there are often enquiries from newcomers asking what to wear. Please let the photographer know if you do not wish your face to be shown in photos.
Please contribute to the collection tin at the ceilidhs to help with the web charges or from the Ceilidh Meetup page, you can click on the “You’re a member” dropdown, select the “Your Member Profile” option and then click on “Pay Online.” Meetup charge if spread over monthly payments now works out at over £200 per year for us.
...Other quotes: "Very uplifting, and not just the kilts". A great work out - better than the gym! "The enthusiasm is infectious! Ceilidhs lift your spirits..."
