New social dance series where Scotland meets the World

Ceilidh Plus

‘Vibrant + enriching’

‘Energetic + enthusiastic’

‘Warm + lively’

We believe that the tradition bearers of Scottish Ceilidh would be delighted to share the stage and the dance floor with the dance traditions of the other cultures that have become an integral part of contemporary Scotland. Although there are regular and popular Ceilidh nights across the country’s community halls and cultural centres, there are hardly any that provide space for the folk fusion of Scottish Ceilidh with other world trad dances.

Our Ceilidh Plus series is changing this and hopefully establishing a new tradition. With our first two Ceilidh Plus events in 2024, we marked the 10th anniversary of the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland. In 2025 the series continues to provide a taste of Scottish and world dance rolled into 3 hours of fun at a time. We travel across Scotland and at least two other countries per night with a live band that keeps you moving and callers guiding you through the steps. If you’ve never been to a Ceilidh before, then you are in for a night like no other. No experience is necessary and all the steps are explained. If you’re a Ceilidh regular, then you know how much fun it is, plus much more!

Missed our first two Ceilidh Plus events? Check this Instagram Reel from #lassfromscotlanland which went viral.

#lassfromscotland

CEILIDH PLUS

Dance to tunes from Scotland, Poland + Hungary

26 APRIL 2025 6.30-9.30 pm

King’s Hall

Tickets £12 (£10)

Advance booking required


Join us for a special Ceilidh Plus event as part of our fourth Pomegranates Festival of world trad dance this spring! Stay tuned as we select and announce our Scottish, Polish and Hungarian dance callers, plus our super band of dance musicians led by Chris Lyons.  

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CEILIDH PLUS

Dance to tunes from Scotland, Ireland + Bulgaria

21 MARCH 2025 6.30-9.30 pm

King’s Hall

Tickets £12 (£10)

Advance booking required


Mark Ireland’s patron day and the 10th anniversary of Scotland’s first Bulgarian School with an Irish, Bulgarian and Scottish Ceilidh guided by our dance callers Dianne Newman, Ariana Stoyanova and Marina Sharp, plus our ace dance musicians Chris Lyons, Tsvetelina Likova and Jack Weir.    

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CEILIDH PLUS

Dance to tunes from Scotland, Greece + Italy

7 DECEMBER 2024 6.30-9.30 pm

King’s Hall

Tickets £12 (£10)

Advance booking required


Let our dance callers Marina Sharp, Monica de Ioanni and Vassia Bouchagiar-Walker plus our dance musicians Chris Lyons, Rona Wilkie, Stefanos Tzotzolakis, Michele Quarta, Simone Caffari and Alessandro Parlato wizz you to sunnier climes.

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CEILIDH PLUS

Dance to tunes from Scotland, China + the USA

2 NOVEMBER 2024 6.30-9.30 pm

King’s Hall

Tickets £12 (£10)

Advance booking required


Celebrate our 10th birthday in style with dance callers Marina Sharp, Angel Godwin and Yanmei Bowie plus dance musicians Chris Lyons, Morag Brown, Lewis Powell-Reid, Eddie McGuire, Chenhao Wang and Tai Shing Lin.

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All you need to know about our Ceilidh Plus series

Ceilidh Plus FAQ

Caller Guidance

Our experienced callers are Scotland-based dance artists, all experts in Scottish or world ceilidhs. As members of the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, they are also tradition bearers of their dance, often first or second-generation cultural migrants. They will explain each dance before you begin and provide instructions throughout the dances. Listening to the caller is key. Don’t worry if you’re new – these Scottish and world ceilidhs are perfect for the absolute beginner or the most experienced ceilidh dancer!

Facilities
There’s a lovely themed pop-up bar and the nicest reception staff. The pop-up bar features a range of local establishments that serve home-cooked light meals and snacks themed around the featured countries. As for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, please bring your own to consume responsibly. Yes, it’s BYOB! Also, pack your refillable water bottles to stay hydrated while dancing!

Tickets

We believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to cultural discovery, hence we try to curate affordable events. Choose from full-price tickets of £12 or a concession of £10. Take advantage of our group offers: £20 for you and your Plus One or £45 for your group of 5. The concessions are available for Students; Under 26; Art workers; Disabled People, Unemployed or in receipt of low-income benefits, e.g. pension credit or universal credit – valid proof required. You can book tickets directly from this page by clicking BOOK NOW. We use TicketSource, a trusted and secure payment platform accepting all major credit and debit cards. The tickets are virtual – all we need is your TicketSource receipt with the QR code but we can also retrieve your booking by your name!

Schedule 

The doors open at 6 pm. The dancing hours are 6.30-9.30 pm with a couple of wee breaks to catch your breath!

The band

Stay tuned! As we get closer to each event date, we post about which talented home-grown or New Scot dance musicians and dance callers will be playing each upcoming event. Follow us on social media for updates and Ceilidh Plus band announcements.

There is no dress code, but wear something comfy for dancing – it gets warm. Tartan or any other world dance costume is always appreciated and you look good in it too!

Dance-floor etiquette

While we encourage everyone to enjoy dancing with different partners, we also value consent and respect personal boundaries. If someone declines a dance, please be respectful and accept their decision gracefully. Remember, the spirit of Scottish and world ceilidh dancing is about joy and camaraderie, and we appreciate your cooperation in creating a positive experience for all.

Reviews
Tag us with #ceilidhplus in all your reviews, reflections and recommendations. Click on the link below to check the reflections by the dance artists Xiaoxuan Zhong and Zhounan He on our first-ever Ceilidh Plus!

 

 

#ceilidhplus
We are grateful for all your support

Acknowledgements

Our first three Ceilidh Plus events wouldn’t have been possible without the micro-grants from the Consulate General of Ireland in Scotland and Creative Scotland through TASGADH (Small Grants for Traditional Arts) and TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland); the in-kind support of the Bulgarian Cultural and Educational Centre – Scotland; the hospitality of our host The King’s Hall; our new partnership with Edinburgh College and our ongoing academic relationship with Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh.