Ceilidh Plus: enjoy ceilidh dances and tunes from Scotland, Greece and Italy
This event has been archived!
Join us for a Ceilidh Plus as part of our new series of Scottish Ceilidh nights to remember! On the plus side, look out for the extra, spicy ingredient fusing Scottish Ceilidh with traditional social dances from around the world. No two Ceilidh Plus nights are the same. The world trad dance and music ingredients may change but the Scottish Ceilidh will remain the foundation. Each night features hand-picked Scotland-based dance artists and dance musicians from diverse backgrounds.
Curated and hosted by our dance musician-in-residence Chris Lyons, this second Ceilidh Plus night features ceilidh dances and tunes from Scotland, Greece and Italy, led and accompanied by Lara Russo and Vassia Bouchagiar-Walker with more to be announced - a great opportunity for the multi-ethnic communities in and around Edinburgh to come together for a joyful dance and music experience rooted in respect for both Scottish and world traditional cultures. Ceilidh Plus is not yet another ceilidh but a new way to celebrate contemporary diverse Scotland. It is also one of the highlights in our Ten out of Ten series of events this winter with which we mark our 10th birthday! Expect a Ceilidh Plus-themed pop-up drinks and food bar!
We are grateful for the support from Creative Scotland through TASGADH (Traditional Arts Small Grants) towards the first two Ceilidh Plus events, with all the proceeds reinvested in our efforts to diversify the traditional dance practised across Scotland and co-curate more such events.
"I 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 which have become an integral part of contemporary Scotland - from Irish Ceili to Bulgarian Folk, from Italian Pizzicca Pizzicca to Greek Rembetiko, or from American Country Line to Chinese Square Dance as in our first three Ceilidh Plus events. Although there are regular and popular Ceilidh nights across the country’s village halls and cultural centres, there are hardly any events which would provide space for the folk fusion of Scottish Ceilidh with other world trad dances. Ceilidh Plus is about to change this and hopefully establish a new tradition." Chris Lyons
About us, Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland
Established in 2014, the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is the only cultural organisation of its kind dedicated to advancing all forms of world dance with roots in traditional culture practised in Scotland. Based in Edinburgh's Scottish Storytelling Centre, but with a national remit as a cultural charity we are one of the three founding forums of Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland (TRACS). We advocate for and support trad dance through free membership and three routes - festivals, residences and productions such as Ceilidh Plus. As part of his residency, Chris Lyons has also contributed to our annual festival Pomegranates in 2023 and 2024, our sold-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 production Thistles and Sunflowers and our new trad dance film The Bright Fabric of Life . Further details at https://www.tdfs.org/
About Chris Lyons
A Scottish-Irish trad musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer and teacher. Based in Edinburgh, Chris graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London and prior to the Covid outbreak, he ran Scotland's major multi-country folk sessions. Chris has established and played in various bands, including Scotland's first and most successful Greek band Athens of the North. Currently, he runs Scotland’s Rebetiko band Allegorical Trio, as well as Hegedu – a Scottish contemporary folk band. He also co-runs Blue Giant Orkestar who play originals and arrangements from many nations and peoples. Formed in late 2019 and since spotted at festivals including Celtic Connections, Knockengorroch, Kelburn Garden Party and Edinburgh Fringe. Their debut album, Constellate was released in February 2024 with the support of Creative Scotland Open Fund and 98 crowdfunding backers. Chis won the Broadcast Music Incorporated Prize for Composition and has composed for BAFTA nominated films, including our new traditional dance film The Bight Fabric of Life . Further details at https://www.chrislyonsmusic.com/
Curated and hosted by our dance musician-in-residence Chris Lyons, this second Ceilidh Plus night features ceilidh dances and tunes from Scotland, Greece and Italy, led and accompanied by Lara Russo and Vassia Bouchagiar-Walker with more to be announced - a great opportunity for the multi-ethnic communities in and around Edinburgh to come together for a joyful dance and music experience rooted in respect for both Scottish and world traditional cultures. Ceilidh Plus is not yet another ceilidh but a new way to celebrate contemporary diverse Scotland. It is also one of the highlights in our Ten out of Ten series of events this winter with which we mark our 10th birthday! Expect a Ceilidh Plus-themed pop-up drinks and food bar!
We are grateful for the support from Creative Scotland through TASGADH (Traditional Arts Small Grants) towards the first two Ceilidh Plus events, with all the proceeds reinvested in our efforts to diversify the traditional dance practised across Scotland and co-curate more such events.
"I 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 which have become an integral part of contemporary Scotland - from Irish Ceili to Bulgarian Folk, from Italian Pizzicca Pizzicca to Greek Rembetiko, or from American Country Line to Chinese Square Dance as in our first three Ceilidh Plus events. Although there are regular and popular Ceilidh nights across the country’s village halls and cultural centres, there are hardly any events which would provide space for the folk fusion of Scottish Ceilidh with other world trad dances. Ceilidh Plus is about to change this and hopefully establish a new tradition." Chris Lyons
About us, Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland
Established in 2014, the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is the only cultural organisation of its kind dedicated to advancing all forms of world dance with roots in traditional culture practised in Scotland. Based in Edinburgh's Scottish Storytelling Centre, but with a national remit as a cultural charity we are one of the three founding forums of Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland (TRACS). We advocate for and support trad dance through free membership and three routes - festivals, residences and productions such as Ceilidh Plus. As part of his residency, Chris Lyons has also contributed to our annual festival Pomegranates in 2023 and 2024, our sold-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 production Thistles and Sunflowers and our new trad dance film The Bright Fabric of Life . Further details at https://www.tdfs.org/
About Chris Lyons
A Scottish-Irish trad musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer and teacher. Based in Edinburgh, Chris graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London and prior to the Covid outbreak, he ran Scotland's major multi-country folk sessions. Chris has established and played in various bands, including Scotland's first and most successful Greek band Athens of the North. Currently, he runs Scotland’s Rebetiko band Allegorical Trio, as well as Hegedu – a Scottish contemporary folk band. He also co-runs Blue Giant Orkestar who play originals and arrangements from many nations and peoples. Formed in late 2019 and since spotted at festivals including Celtic Connections, Knockengorroch, Kelburn Garden Party and Edinburgh Fringe. Their debut album, Constellate was released in February 2024 with the support of Creative Scotland Open Fund and 98 crowdfunding backers. Chis won the Broadcast Music Incorporated Prize for Composition and has composed for BAFTA nominated films, including our new traditional dance film The Bight Fabric of Life . Further details at https://www.chrislyonsmusic.com/
Event data provided by DataThistle