Workshops

We have worked hard to offer you more than 50 great, fun and diverse workshops, with renowned leaders… choosing will be hard! If you have any queries regarding workshops, click here!

Dance workshops

Appalachian clogging – Ian Goodall

Sunday, 10.30-11.30, Pleasance, Ochil Room

Come along for an introduction to Appalachian clogging, a fast and fun style of dancing with influences from Scottish and Irish step dancing, and Native American and African-American traditions. Please wear hard-soled or tap shoes. Trainers are not suitable.

American square dancing – Rhodri Davies

Saturday, 12-13.15, Teviot, Debating Hall

Square dancing developed in America – a dance form that could take place in small communities with a musician and caller prompting the moves. There are many regional variations and also a formalised version with hundreds of different moves. Come along and learn a few (variations and moves). “Wait for the music, listen to the call”

Baltic dances – Ieva Malinauskaite

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Teviot, Study 

An introduction to Lithuanian and Latvian folk dances. The dances are fun, energetic and easy to learn so are ideal for all levels of experience. Despite the distance between the countries, there are intriguing similarities with Scottish and British folk dances. The workshop will introduce three different variations of the polka which feature heavily in the dances.

Bal Folk for beginners – Edinbal & Parasol

Saturday, 9-10.15 & 10.30-11.45, Pleasance, Highland Room

Organised by Edinburgh’s new European folk society, Edinbal, and with live music from Parasol, this workshop will cover everything you need to know to have even more fun at the evening bal folk – it’s like a ceilidh, but French-style! This workshop is aimed at absolute beginners and beginners in bal folk.

Blues dancing – Craig Thomson & Leigh Anderson

Sunday, 10.15-11.15, Pleasance, 48a Upper

Blues Dancing is an American Folk Dance still evolving today. It’s a partner dance rooted in African Solo Movement and combined with the notion of European Partner Dancing. It is characterised by a strong interpretive and improvisational spirit, and an emphasis on connection between the dance partners and the music. In this all levels workshop we’ll introduce the key concepts of musicality and connection and get you moving around the dance floor with some traditional moves. No need to bring a partner and no special shoes are required.

Bulgarian Folklore Dances – Nelly Valentinova

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Pleasance, Ochil Room

Live the Rhythm! Bulgarian Folklore Dances express the diverse and rich Balkan emotions – feel it! The ‘horó’ dances vary in rhythm, corresponding to the cultural diversity of the seven regions of Bulgaria. The moves could be cheerful and vivid, but also deep and smooth, expressing the relevant mood. Danced by all people together, the ‘horo’ figures embody various shapes while boosting social communication and improving highly the body health. Level: beginners/intermediate. Preferable equipment: comfortable clothing, handkerchief, leather belt, great mood!

Catalan dancing around the square – Anna Vinyoles & Montse Soler

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Teviot, Study 

Come and learn some group and partnered dances that people do for fun in the streets and squares of cities and towns in Catalonia. Expect interesting figures, some hopping, healthy memory exercising and live music all the way from Barcelona!

Catalan dances for children – Anna Vinyoles & Montse Soler

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Pleasance, Pentland Room

Whether you are biologiocally young or try to keep young at heart, join us for some Catalan dances for all ages in this family-friendly workshop. Playful group and couple dances for an hour of relaxed fun with live music.

CeilidhKids – Caroline Brockbank

Sunday, 10.30-11.30, Pleasance, Pentland Room

Family Scottish dancing for those who are too small or shy to let go of their Mum’s or Dad’s hand. Aimed at 3-5 year olds and their parents and carers but all (including teddy bears) are welcome. Skip, jump, clap and twirl to the music!

Chinese dance – Cecilia Yao

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Pleasance, 48a Upper

Peacock dance is a popular dance at Chinese festivals. In China, peacocks are a symbol of good luck, beauty and happiness. Come along and enjoy one of the most elegant traditional Chinese dances!

Contra – Bob Morgan

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Teviot, Debating Hall

Contra dancing is American, high energy and flowing.  Bob will teach some important basics with some of his favourite dances, suitable for all levels but focussing at beginner level.  Everything you need for the evening contra if you’re nervous.

Couple dancing: improvisation and leading – Parasol

Saturday, 12-13.15, Pleasance, Highland Room

Aimed at people with experience in couple dancing, and ran by the great bal folk band from France, Parasol, this workshop will cover some unusual couple dances (such as asymmetric waltzes), variations on basic couple dances and tips to improve your following and leading skills.

Dances With a Difference – Richard Mason

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Teviot, Debating Hall

It’s back again… more ceilidh dances to tie you in knots from the slightly warped mind of Richard. A stalwart of IVFDF, this workshop will take you through ceilidh dances that you would never get to see at any normal ceilidh.

Dancing with wheelchairs – Joanna Birch

Saturday, 12-13.15, Pleasance, Pentland Room

Danse Libre. Dirty dancing through the centuries – Alena Shmakova

Sunday, 10.30-11.30, Teviot, Debating Hall

The workshop is the opportunity to travel through the time and discover the dances which were considered as riotous and indecent in the past. Prepare for surprises as the programme includes the favourite dance of Elizabeth the 1st, waltz and cancan.

Greek Dancing – Sofia Papadia

Saturday, 9-10.15, Pleasance, Ochil Room

Explore the Greek dancing tradition beyond Syrtaki and have fun without breaking any plates! The dances are social and suitable for all levels – no partner necessary. In this workshop we’ll visit primarily the Southeast (Aegean islands-Asia Minor) but also enjoy some dances from mainland Greece. Wear trainers or similar supportive shoes and comfortable clothes.

Irish set dancing – David Ford

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Teviot, Debating Hall

Riverdance this isn’t! Irish set dancing is based on quadrilles, but transformed by the Irish into their own lively dance style. In the 1930s, unlicensed dances were denounced as “orgies of dissipation” and yet surprisingly fell out of favour. Hard-soled shoes preferable. Suitable for beginners but fun for all.

Kentucky Running Set – Burt Hunter

Saturday, 9-10.15, Teviot, Study

Running set is something of a cindarella relation in the family of folk dancing. It was ‘discovered’ by Cecil Sharp on a trip to the Appalachians and brought back to the British Isles, whence he believed it originated. It was one of the progenitors of American square dancing. My aim is to popularise it and inspire participants to go away enthused to the point of starting their own groups, as I did following years of attending workshops at Whitby. The workshop is suitable for anyone with a rudimentary grasp of the principle of dancing in sets with a partner.

Latin American dances – Bretchen Hoskins

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Pleasance, Pentland Room

From the Altiplano to the Patagonia: a taste of Latin American dance
Have you tried a Huayno? Have you heard that in Austral regions of Chile folklore is influenced by European dances, like waltz? We are going to travel through the Andes! We will learn the basics of some folklore dances of Peru, Bolivia and Chile.
Bring your scarf, handkerchief or hat, if you have one… Any shoes are suitable to have fun!

North West Clog – Rosie Crabb-Wyke

Saturday, 9-10.15, Pleasance, 48a Upper

North-West clog morris is an energetic, precise and noisy style of dance from the mill towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Traditionally danced by men or women it was danced in processions and competitions. Rosie will be teaching Pipers Ash, as danced by Persephone Womens Morris of Bradford. All abilities welcome, trainers/ hard soled shoes preferred.

Northwest Morris – Phil Davies

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Pleasance, Ochil Room

We will be looking at a traditional Northwest Morris dance, “Mrs Hepples” by Trevor Owen. This is a very energetic, smooth flowing dance but great fun! Some experience of Northwest would be good but not essential. Wear trainers (no clogs!) and bring short sticks if you have them – but there will be a supply for those who don’t. Phil has been dancing Northwest Morris for 10 years; he is a member of “Customs and exiles” and ex-foreman of dance with “Basingclog Morris”.

Playford – Andrew Swaine

Saturday, 9.15-10.15, Teviot, Debating Hall

The ceilidh dances of the age, these were English Country Dances published between 1651 and the mid to late 1700s. Recently a new generation of dancers and musicians has started to rediscover them, taking them back to their roots. Find out what the fuss is about.

Rapper Sword – Mons Meg Rapper, Kev Theaker

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Pleasance, 48a Upper

Mons Meg, Edinburgh’s only resident rapper side, will run a rapper workshop suitable for all levels; beginner to advanced. Rapper is a fast paced English traditional dance performed using short double handled flexible swords. Faster than morris, more complex than north west, and danced inside pubs. Give it a try.

Southern Italian Dances – Davide Panzeri & the Badwills

Saturday, 12-13.15, Teviot, Study 

Experienced workshop leader Davide Panzeri will be joined by The Badwills, Edinburgh’s own tarantella collective, to bring you live the rhythms and sounds of the sultry south of Italy. This workshop will be an introduction to fast paced and energetic dances such as pizzica and tammurriata, and is guaranteed to have you stomping to the rhythm of the tarantula.

Scottish Country Dancing for beginners – Jen Wood & Rachel Wignall

Saturday, 9-10.15 &10.30-11.45, St Peter’s Hall, Lutton Place

Scottish Highland dance – Marina Sharp

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Pleasance, Highland Room

Scottish stepdance – Fiona Campbell

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Pleasance, Ochil Room

Have a go at the “hard” form of Scottish dancing, i.e. the Scottish form of hard-shoe dancing. Learn some basic Strathspey and Reel steps combined with simple dance patterns in this workshop. Recommended footwear is hard-soled shoes, ideally with a small heel, but not essential.

Some Really Complicated Scottish Country Dancing – Kirsten Ferguson

Saturday, 12-13.15, St Peter’s Hall, Lutton Place

Ok, so perhaps it won’t be that bad. This is Scottish Country Dancing with a little bit extra: upside down, inside out, flipped around and plonked back down on top of itself. A chance to try some dances that are a little out of the ordinary and you might not meet every day. No technique, just some pretty funky dances to test your brain.

Swing – Helen Cheney

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Pleasance, 48a Upper

Lindy Hop is a partner dance that originated in America during the big band Jazz era of the 1930s to 1940s.  It formed out of popular dances at the time and incorporated the wild and fancy footwork of The Charleston, tap and jazz dancing. This workshop is a fun, beginners introduction to some of the rhythms and classic steps that make Lindy Hop the dance it is. Please wear comfortable, flat, slip-sole shoes and a bundle of energy.

Sword dancing – Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers

Sunday, 10.30-11.30, Teviot, Study 

Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers from Sheffield are one of the few surviving teams of traditional Yorkshire longsword dancers, with a proud continuous history of more than 130 years.  Their dance is precise, energetic and unique, even within the tradition, and is enhanced by the elaborate military style uniforms. Although the dance is usually performed with eight men they will be presenting an exciting and challenging newly-developed 6 man version at the Festival. The workshop session is your unique opportunity to come along and learn a few of the figures with the team.

Traditional Danish Folkdance – Henning Christensen

Saturday, 12-13.15, Pleasance, Ochil Room

The traditional folkdances in Denmark are from the 18th century. The dances are inspired from all of our neighbours so you’ll find English style dances as well as German and Swedish. We are going to be doing ceilidh dances so all levels can participate. Hard soled shoes are normally used but trainers are equally good.

Tudor dance – Elizabeth Lawson

Saturday, 12-13.15, Pleasance, 48a Upper

Fun, vigorous dances from the sixteenth century onwards suitable for beginners. Most of these come from a dance manual, The Orchesographie, but we’ll also have a look at a few sixteenth century survivors that turn up in the first edition of Playford’s The Dancing Master.

Music Workshops

Auvergne: music from the French volcanoes – Duo Mistral (Chris & Caroline Shaw)

Saturday, 9-10.15, Teviot, Dining Room

Chris has an expertise in music and dance from Correze and Auvergne going back to the early 1980s when he first met up with Jean-Pierre Champeval and Jean-Francois Vrod. Caroline fell in love with French music and dance at about the same time she met Chris, some 14 years ago and has since developed her own expertise in both. She says Chris plays like a French peasant, a serious compliment, and Chris says she now picks up the little nuances (which he can’t!) that really make the music dance!

Edinburgh Vox – Anna Tabbush

Saturday, 9-10.15, Pleasance, 48a Lower

Join Anna Tabbush of the Climax Ceilidh Band and create an uplifting, glorious, harmonious sound with contemporary and traditional songs from the British Isles and around the world. Anna leads several choirs in the South East of England and will teach all the songs by ear.

Gaelic Songs – Charles MacLeod

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Pleasance, FolkSoc Room

This fun workshop will make you discover easy Scottish Gaelic songs with repeating choruses full of vocables. No Gaelic or previous experience necessary. There will be printed sheets with words / phonetics and translations of the songs available to everyone. The melodies of Gaelic songs are beautiful but they are even more so when you can understand the words, meaning and sentiment behind them.

Home  Recording 101 - Alastair Mackie

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Teviot, Dining Room

Have  you  always  wanted  to  make  your  own  album,  but  never  had  the  funds  to  pay  for  a  professional  studio?  These  days  it  is  possible  to  record  a  full  album  in  your  bedroom.  I  will  show  you  what  equipment  you  need  and  some  basic  studio  techniques.  This  workshop  is  aimed  for  complete  beginners.

Medieval – Steve Tyler

Saturday, 12-13.15, Teviot, Dining Room

A workshop led by hurdy-gurdy player Steve Tyler of Angles looking at medieval music, dance tunes for the French bal, and own compositions. Hurdy-gurdies encouraged but other instruments also welcome.

Orkney Tunes – Helen Le-Mar

Sunday, 9.15-10.15, Pleasance, FolkSoc Room

At this workshop you will learn some tunes from the beautiful Orkney Islands in the very north of Scotland. The workshop is suitable for intermediate-advanced musicians and the tunes will be taught by ear.

Scottish songs – Fiona Campbell (Traditional Music and Song Association)

Saturday, 12-13.15, Pleasance, 48a Lower

Take a break to come and sing some of the songs of Scotland. There will be a mix of well-known and not so well-known songs. We’ll be learning the melodies by ear but words will provided, and we may get to harmonies depending on interest. All levels welcome.

Scottish tunes – Lewis Hou

Saturday, 9-10.15, Pleasance, FolkSoc Room

Come learn some of Ceilidh Me Softly’s favourite Scottish tunes. We’ll go through some tunes by ear and finish with a session. Bring your own instruments (both tune and rhythm welcome), terrible puns not included.

Sing-a-long songs of Scotland – Graham Webster

Sunday, 10.30-11.30, Pleasance, FolkSoc Room

Scotland has a rich histopry of communal singing – from Bothy ballads to protest song – come along and learn a few pieces, hand-picked especially from the School of Scottish Studies Archive in Edinburgh

Songs: Shooting Roots Style! – Lisa Heywood

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Pleasance, 48a Lower

Come sing with us! Fun songs and catchy arrangements for all levels with a dose of Shooting Roots silliness! Shooting Roots runs folk workshops for young people by young people in theatre, music, song, craft and dance. Interested in tutoring for us? Drop by to find out more.

Ukulele and guitar – Bruce Knapp

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Teviot, Dining Room

Bring your ukuleles and guitars to a workshop with Bruce Knapp of Climax Ceilidh Band (and formerly of Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain) for some fun interpretations of well known tunes. All abilities welcome.

Other fun workshops

Beginners Balloon Modelling – Jenny Harding

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Pleasance, Pentland Room

Balloon modelling for beginners! If you’ve ever wanted to learn to make a sausage dog or silly hat, or fancy a nice relaxed sunday morning then this is for you. No equipment or experience necessary, max 12 people.

Calling for Ceilidhs – John Brown

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Teviot, Study 

Have you every wanted to call at a ceilidh, but never had ? Have you maybe called once or twice and want to call more? Do you just need to find some other callers to talk to? Or do you just have an insane lust for power? This is the workshop for you, we’ll cover all the basics a discuss problems people have with calling. Beginners and experienced callers welcome.

Fun with folk bagpipes, folk dance and folk tales; The traditional role of bagpipers in European folkdance - James Macdonald Reid

Saturday, 9-10.15, Pleasance, Pentland Room

James MacDonald Reid learned bagpiping, singing, dancing and folktales from childhood within the Scottish Gaelic tradition. As a teenager in the 1960s he travelled through other parts of Europe including Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovakia and the Czech lands to learn their equivalent traditional bagpipes and dances, often staying for months at a time in villages, learning directly from tradition bearers within the community. He has continued to visit these countries and still learns from them directly within their own languages. For this hour-long session, he will play and demonstrate a variety of folk-bagpipes used for dancing, show some of the dance styles and recite some of the folklore of pipers who play for the village dance.

Improvisational storytelling – Tom Goodale

Saturday, 10.30-11.45, Pleasance, FolkSoc Room

Get your creative juices running with fun games which will help you create a story on the fly, keeping your audience interested and bringing the story home. No prior experience necessary.

Massage – Lucie Robertson

Origami – Johann Bryant

Sunday, 10.30-11.30, Teviot, Dining Room

If you can see animals in clouds, mountains in sand or patterns in dots or numbers then why not make your imaginings reality? Origami is folding paper (literally) with mind or maths to create that which is not there… sounds Zen? Mu…

Storytelling: Ghosts and ghoulies – Erin Fairley

Saturday, 12-13.15, Pleasance, FolkSoc Room

An introduction to stories of ghosts and the supernatural from Scotland and beyond, with ideas for how to terrify your audience and where to find spooky stories. No storytelling – or haunting – experience needed!

Storytelling (The Orient and beyond) – Johann Bryant

Sunday, 11.45-12.45, Teviot, Dining Room

Storytelling in and of the Orient. We’ll look at the rise of storytelling in the Orient, some of its themes and how it differs and is similar to that of the West. No story writing or drawing experience or skill needed, just a mind willing to imagine :)

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