I’d like to talk about having a go at a traditional ceilidh dance, which happened about two years ago during a close friend’s wedding reception at a rustic barn just outside Edinburgh. I went along with a few former flatmates from university, and none of us really had any background in folk dancing, so we were slightly apprehensive at first.
Once the live band started playing the fiddle and accordion, though, it was impossible to stay seated. A caller stood up front to explain the basic steps, but things quickly devolved into absolute chaos in the best possible way. We were paired up and spun around the dance floor, clapping, stomping our feet, and weaving in and out of long lines of guests. The tempo kept speeding up, and we were constantly crashing into other couples because of our terrible timing, but everyone was simply laughing too hard to care.
What made the whole experience so thoroughly enjoyable was just how liberating and inclusive it felt. Often, dancing at social gatherings can feel a bit self-conscious, with people trying to look cool or worrying about their moves. With this kind of energetic group dance, though, all that pretence went straight out of the window. You are practically forced to hold hands with complete strangers and throw yourself into the rhythm. By the time the set finished, I was completely drenched in sweat and utterly out of breath, yet I felt this incredible surge of endorphins and camaraderie with everyone in the room.