Spring has sprung across Scotland and we are sowing the seeds of our Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland Pomegranates – our springtime international traditional dance festival 28-30 April 2023. Have you booked your Pomegranates 2023 festival tickets yet? Pay What You Can now. Can’t make it to Edinburgh for the three festival nights of live dance shows, films, tours, talks, poems and afterparties? Join us from the comfort of your home or studio as we livestream the first festival day of twelve (!) workshops on 28 April 8am-5pm. Book now!
Alongside our Pay What You Can festival offer, you can also try our FREE Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland membership for 2023. Register now! In the meantime, let’s dance through March 2023! Just use our curatorial line up below to plan your Scottish and international dance steps across Scotland and beyond! Share our infographics for at a glance overview of our own Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland activities this month!
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by 3 Mar
Garba – book this session and learn the authentic Indian folk dance form of Garba with Jigar Soni of Soni’s School of Garba Dance, the world’s biggest Garba school! Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost: £20
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by 3 Mar
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3 Mar
Carnival Ceilidh hosted by the Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society. Held at Upper Hall, Edinburgh. Bring your best costume.
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3 Mar
Bimonthly E-Newsletter – exclusive to Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland subscribers. Join our mailing list and subscribe now.
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4 Mar
Hornpipe Dance Workshop in aid of the RNLI hosted by the Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society. Held at Quaker Studio, Edinburgh
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4 Mar
Folk Education Development Day:Teaching Folk Dance in Schools curated by our friends at Folk Education Network of English Folk Dance and Song Society at Cecil Sharp House, London. FREE
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4 Mar + 11 Mar + 18 Mar + 25 Mar
West African – a drop-in dance class led by Raquel Ribes. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost per class from £9
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4 Mar + 11 Mar + 18 Mar + 25 Mar
Authentic Argentine Tango – a drop-in dance class led by Ani Tchakmakdjian. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost per class from £9
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4 Mar
Trad Dance Night with Mairi Campbell’s Lismore Dance Band. Held at Lismore, Isle of Lismore. FREE. Donations welcome.
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5 Mar + 19 Mar
Hip Hop/Breakin’ – an open practice session for breakers, hip hoppers, lockers, poppers, waackers, housers and freestylers. Dancers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost per session: £2.50
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5 Mar
Sunday Social with Dunedin Dancers with live music by Ewan Galloway. Held at Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Edinbugh. Tickets from £5
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5 Mar
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9 Mar + 16 Mar
Bulgarian Dance Workshops for beginners and advanced hosted by Hop Trop, Edinburgh. Led by Ariana Stoyanova and Mirela. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. FREE
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10-11 Mar
The Sacrifice – featuring live music on stage, this dance show is inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of ‘Tswana’ the traditional dance of Botswana. Showing at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. Tickets from £19
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11 Mar
Ceilidh with dance caller Ken Gourlay accompanied by his ceilidh band. Held at Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh. Tickets from £10. FREE to NHS staff
17 Mar
Mbangilu – a sharing of our Traditional Dance Residency following Kalubi Mukengela’s research from 13-16 Mar at Dance Base, Edinburgh in the traditional Luba and Kuba dances of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In collaboration with drummer Nemo Ganguli. FREE but booking required. READ MORE
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17 Mar
Anniversary Dance – Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. Fun, celebratory cake and live music by Iain MacPhail’s Band at Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh
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22 Mar
Job Opportunity – could you be the Head of Dance for Health and Wellbeing at Dance Base, Edinburgh? Salary: £34,800 per annum. Contract: Full time, 35 hours per week. Apply by 22 Mar
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24 Mar
Centenary Dance – celebrate the Centenary of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society with live music by Ewan Galloway and his Scottish Dance Band. Held at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Edinburgh. Join waiting list
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25 Mar
Duets – exhibition preview of Gabriel Schmitz’ first solo show in Scotland featuring a live duet of trad dance and drawing as part of Pomegranates 2023 festival. Held at the Storytelling Court of Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. FREE but booking required. READ MORE
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25 Mar
Ceilidh with dance caller Ken Gourlay accompanied by his ceilidh band. Held at Greyfriars Charteris Centre, Edinburgh. Tickets from £10. FREE to NHS staff.
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25 Mar
Alba Social – a fun afternoon of dancing hosted by a group of young Scottish country dancers. Held at Jordanhill Parish Church, Glasgow. FREE to under aged 12 years. 12-18 years: £2. Over 18 years: £5
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25 Mar
Centenary Concert – celebrate the wonderful music Royal Scottish Country Dance Society love to dance to with live performances from Muriel Johnstone, Pete Clark, Tim Macdonald and Peter Shand. Held at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh. Tickets: £10
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25 Mar
The Ball – the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society invites members from around the world to join 2023 Centenary celebrations at a special Ball hosted in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms. Join waiting list
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26 Mar
Scratch Night – a platform for showcasing dance work-in-progress being made in Scotland. Curated by independent artist Lewis Normand, this evening will feature work by Max Evans, David Yates, Anya Sirina and Marios Ento-Engkolo. Tickets from £6.
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26 Mar – 1 May
Duets – Gabriel Schmitz’ first solo show in Scotland featuring duets of dance and drawing as part of Pomegranates 2023 festival. Held at the Storytelling Court of Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. FREE. READ MORE
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28 Mar
Live Duet – a live duet of dance and drawing featuring Pomegranates 2023 festival artist-inresidence Gabriel Schmitz. Held at the Goethe-Institut, Glasgow. FREE but booking requiered. READ MORE
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28 Mar
Nice’n’Easy – a fun evening with a programme of popular dances that is suitable for everyone. Hosted by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Held at Barclay Viewforth, Edinburgh. Tickets: £5
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31 Mar
Catch the Rhythmic Orkney Tide and Ride – Jennifer Wrigley‘s new piece of music featuring Fèis Lochabair Orkney Dancers. Held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
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Title image by Simon Berger/unsplash as featured in our Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland commission Beira and Bride by Donald Smith
