What's the difference between a ceili, a ceilidh, a hoedown, and a barndance?
There isn't any, they all are essentially the same thing. There's a caller who guides the dancers and a band who plays the music – you do the dancing! Ceili is the Irish spelling and ceilidh is the Scottish. A hoedown or barn dance often has an American theme, so you'll see lots of cowboy hats at a hoedown and a lot more kilts at a ceilidh!
Do you need experience?
No experience necessary. You don't need to know anything about dancing to take part, the caller explains everything before you begin and then talks you through the steps as you dance.
How many people do you need to hold one?
16 people is about the minimum for a good night. It's energetic so you need enough people to be able to have a breather and let someone else have a go. It's great fun and a brilliant way of getting people to mingle at weddings and parties!
Do I need a barn?
Absolutely not, all you need is a bit of space. We've played everywhere from someone's back garden to the Kings Hall which holds over 1000 people.
Can children join in?
Children are usually the first up. They love dancing and are often extremely good at following the instructions from the caller. It's not ideal for children under 3 years old, but we've played for many infant and junior schools and can tailor the dances to suit younger children.
How long do you play for?
We normally play from 8pm until 11.30pm, with a break in the middle.
I'm thinking of organising a ceili, what should I do?
The first thing to do is find a venue that will hold the numbers you are expecting. The local village hall is often ideal. Then decide on a few dates, contact us to see if we're available, book the bar if you're planning on offering drinks, arrange any food or ask people to bring their own. Invite people and tell all your friends. We can put a link our Moody Food facebook page.