May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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Winter Concert and Ceilidh
February 4 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
$10 – $20
Join the Guelph Celtic Orchestra in an evening of live fiddle music and dance. Join in after the concert for a ceilidh dance!
What is a Ceilidh and How Do I Pronounce it?
The word Ceilidh (kay-lee) literally means ‘visit’ in Scottish Gaelic. Now it is referred to as a social gathering with music and dance and sometimes poetry and song. In the case of the GCO, however, there is little to no singing or poetry-sorry. The music is provided by a live Ceilidh band playing traditional Jigs, Reels, Polkas and such. The set up is somewhat similar to square-dancing…in that it is done in groups of 8, facing each other in lines, or in a circle. So come alone, with a partner, or come in a group and get tangled up in the fun!
How Will I Know What to DO?
Fear not newbie Ceilidh goer-there will be a ‘Caller’ present to explain the steps prior to the music being played for each dance. The caller leads the dancers through the steps slowly without music- in a crash course, easy to follow kind of way. Once the caller is through with the explanation, the band strikes up and it’s into the real thing! The caller will keep on calling and if you’re lucky will come and untangle you and spin you in the right direction from time to time. All the while – just keep on skipping along to the beat of the music!
What Ages Can Participate?
As the kids of today are our Ceilidh experts of the future, all ages are welcome… however we do ask that no babes in arms participate in the dance (mainly because in order to dance, your feet really should touch the floor, from time to time). Children 5 and under are free of charge at GCO events! Fun and great exercise for all sorts of generations!
What Should I Wear?
Whatever you like, depending on how comfortable you like to be. However, in order to prevent injury, perhaps choose footwear accordingly. Also- it gets warm. (Which is nice in the winter.)
Altogether, it is an inexpensive and unique night out. Give it a try and see you on the dance floor!
For more information about the Guelph Celtic Orchestra, check out our website:
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