Q: Are beginners welcome?

A: Absolutely! In fact, the more beginners the better. The dances we do are easy and all of them are walked through and talked through beforehand. Ceilidhs are meant to be fun, fun, fun so nobody is going to get upset if mistakes are made along the way! There will always be experienced dancers in the group to help you feel comfortable and to grow in confidence with every session, so banish all fears and come onboard!

Q: Do I have to come with a partner?

A: No, not at all! These evenings are all about enjoyable dancing, but they also provide many opportunities to meet new faces and make some new friends. It's generally the case that everyone takes a different partner for each of the dances, but this is by no means necessary and it's very much up to the indivdiuals concerned. In some dances each couple will meet/dance with everyone in the room, and in others each dancing couple might only dance with 3 or 4 other couples in the "set" (group of 3-4 couples). If you're keen to dance we'll make sure you're fully involved!

Q: Who usually comes along?

A: Ceilidhs are open to anyone and everyone, and this is what makes them such a popular form of dancing. They appeal as much to overseas students resident in Oxford on a short term basis as they do to traditional, veteran, kilt-clad Scots keen to see how much fun can be had south of the border :-) In general, the age range of 20-50 is best represented on a typical evening. The dancing will be quite energetic, but rest assured there are no minimum standards of fitness required!

Q: What should I wear for the evening?

A: There are few guidelines here, as the evening is meant to be very relaxed. As some of the dances are rather energetic, it's best not to dress up too warm - it's no accident that the dancing season runs through the winter! Comfortable footwear is a must, and we would be grateful if ladies could avoid wearing high heels in the interest of protecting the wooden dance floor. On a final note, anyone who comes wearing a kilt will be entitled to a reduced entry fee at the door!

Can't think of any other obvious FAQs at this stage but will add to this in future as required. Please email john@stripthewillow.com if you have any questions that aren't answered here.