French Dancing

Yannick Minvielle-Debat (of Les Panards Dansants) is renowned throughout the country as one of the finest French dance teachers, and the workshop in the morning will be followed by an opportunity to put all you have learned into practise in the Bal after lunch. Les Panards Dansants host monthly french music sessions at the Chemix, Leeds, and regular sessions, tuition and dances at Holms Street Arts Centre, Hebden Bridge. So get along to the Picturedrome on Saturday, no partner needed, just reasonably sensible shoes, and be prepared to learn, or brush up, your bourees, schottisches, mazurkas and waltzes.

Workshop: Saturday morning 10.30 - 11.30 @ The Picturedrome
Bal: Saturday afternoon 1.30 - 3.30 @ The Picturedrome

Festival Ceilidh

Brought to you this year by the fantastic Boat Band with caller Peter Bearon. The Boat Band are Kate Barfield (fiddle, trombone, vocals), Greg Stephens (guitar, banjo, vocals) and Tony Weatherall (accordions, vocals). They have recently celebrated their 20th anniversary – so they must be doing something right! After playing for many years, trawling the venues of Britain and beyond, The Boat Band have picked up a huge and varied catch of tunes: Creole, Caribbean, gospel, Cajun, Irish, zydeco and blues - not much slips through the net. If it can be played on accordion and fiddle (or trombone, washboard, trumpet, banjo etc), and if it touches the heart and moves the feet, it's in the repertoire.

Caller Peter Bearon is a veteran of Holmfirth Festival, having called for previous ceilidhs and also dancing with Rumworth Morris. A great exponent of the art who ensures the evening's dancing has something for everyone, and who has the gift of being able to get everyone to understand the dances so that they can enjoy themselves.

Tickets are £7 for adults and £4 for children. Available before the festival from reception at The Old Bridge Hotel and on the weekend from the festival office.

Saturday evening 8.00 - 11.00 @ The Market Hall

Family Ceilidh

Come and join us for the free family ceilidh on Sunday afternoon at the market hall featuring our very own and ever popular 'Good Egg Band'. If you fancy 'Stripping the Willow' or dancing the 'Swedish Masquerade' come along and join in the fun! All dances are called, no experience necessary, suitable for ages 3 to 93! And if that’s not enough to tempt you, 'Colonel Custard' will be there with his Punch and Judy show.

Sunday afternoon 2.00 - 4.30 @ The Market Hall