Parkinson's Set Dancing Group Christmas party

We have completed the first term of Irish set dancing classes for people with Parkinson's disease in Bristol. The class was set up by Geraldine Teggart following preliminary research in Italy showing benefits of set dancing to people with Parkinson's disease. 
Further research is ongoing in Ireland and Italy, but it is thought that the strong rhythm of the music and the "feel good factor"of set dancing may contribute to its beneficial effect.
During nine classes of an hour and a half, in which people with Parkinson's were supported on a one-to-one basis by experienced set dancers, modified versions of the Connemara, and parts of the Cashel and Black Valley Jig sets were danced. 
The tenth class was the Christmas party, all the learnt figures were danced and there was also entertainment including poems, songs and music. A raffle raised £58 for the local branch of Parkinson's UK. 
Photos below were taken by Mick Carr at the Christmas party.

For details of all the Christmas parties, see "Calendar". There is a Hibernia party, with entertainment and dancing, which will almost certainly include some set dancing if enough set dancers turn up, on Friday 6th December. Dinder class have their party on Thursday 12th, Colyford on Sunday 15th, Newton Abbot on Saturday 21st, and St Bon's on Sunday 22nd December. Shoscombe's party, to round off the festive season, is on Friday 3rd January.

The Autumn Ceili at St Bon's was lots of fun - see pictures below - and the raffle raised £122 for Parkinson's UK. Thanks to everyone who came along.
And another good night last night at Gloucester Irish Festival, a very lively and entertaining night and we got a few sets in too!

Autumn Ceili 2013

Here are a few photos from the Autumn ceili at St Bon's.

Autumn Ceili

Ceili with music by the Polka Pests this Sunday at St Bon's! See under "Calendar" for more details.

Events in October:
New class starting for people with Parkinson's disease - see previous post, below.

Autumn Ceili at St Bon's, with music from the Polka Pests, on Sunday 20th October - click on "Calendar" above for more details.

Traditional Ceili/ Folk dance at Gloucester Irish Centre on Saturday 26th October - see under "Calendar" for more details.

Usual classes at St Bon's, Dinder, Shoscombe,  Wotton and Newton Abbot - see under "Other local groups".

Sunday workshops/ ceilis at Dinder (6th October), Wotton (13th October) and Colyford (20th October) - see under "Other local groups"

Set Dancing Classes for people with Parkinson's disease (and partners) will be starting at the Vassall Centre, Fishponds, Bristol, on Wednesday 9th October 2013. Geraldine has been able to obtain funding to pay for the venue, and a group of the more experienced dancers from St Bon's have offered to help and support the new dancers. For more information please contact Geraldine Teggart by email:  geraldine.teggart@blueyonder.co.uk

September is here and all the classes are starting up again. Dinder Sunday workshop and ceili today, St Bon's tonight as usual. Tuesday sees the start of the new term for Shoscombe, and next Sunday 8th for Wotton under Edge. Dinder BBQ is this Thursday evening. See "other local groups" for more details.

St Bon's set dancing class is running all through August. Although the Social Club is closed for a couple of weeks, set dancing continues! But there will be no bar on Sunday 25th August.

St Bon's class will not be taking place on Sunday 4th August, as so many people are going to be away, on summer holidays, attending conferences etc! But the class will resume as normal on Sunday 11th August and continue through the summer.

Geraldine Teggart, a member of the Bristol set dancing group, set up an event last week for the local Parkinson's young onset group. The purpose of the event was to bring set dancing to people with Parkinson's in the Bristol area, given what we now know from recent research about the possible benefits of set dancing for people with Parkinson's.

The evening was a great success. Geraldine began with a brief summary of the research to date and an introduction to set dancing. This was followed on by a demonstration by some 25 set dancers from the Bristol group. Excellent music  was provided by local musicians Phil, Hiroko and Martin. People with Parkinson's were then invited to join the group on the floor to begin to learn some basic steps and figures. To our delight almost everyone present gave it a try and all seemed to have a good time. A cheque was also presented to the Parkinson's group for £258 raised through raffles at the Bristol set dancing weekend in April.

The next step will be to consider how we might best progress from here. It is possible that we might be able to set up a regular workshop for people with Parkinson's disease, if there is sufficient interest. Watch this space!

For any further info please contact Geraldine on geraldine.teggart@blueyonder.co.uk 

 For a short but useful and interesting article on set dancing and Parkinson's disease (research showing benefits to patients from set dancing) see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22066905

Thank you to Val Knight (and helpers) for a brilliant workshop and ceili last Sunday, 9th June. We had a great time.

Bristol Set Dancing weekend was great fun, many thanks to the Deenagh Ceili Band, Val Knight, all those who helped with the organisation and running of the weekend, and everyone who came along and helped to make the event a success.
More photos can be seen by clicking on "Bristol w/e 26 - 28 Apr '13" at top of page.

Only 11 days to go to the Bristol Set Dance weekend! Come and dance to the lively, popular Deenagh Ceili Band from Kerry/ Sligo. Workshops are led by Val Knight, with live music by The Perfect Cure. Click on tab above -  "Bristol w/e 26 - 28 April '13" - for further details.

Mick and I are just back from the Halsway Manor weekend - what a great weekend! Thanks Maggie and Lucy. Fantastic music from Ceili Time. Photos to follow!

Halsway Manor

I am glad to see so many of the Bristol group are booked in to Halsway Manor for next weekend.  I am busy revising the workshop dances, and looking forward to another great weekend there.

Sundays at St Bon's - these will continue as usual (8.30 - 11 pm) for the Easter period.

St Patrick's Day Set Dancing Party at St Bon's in Bristol will now start at 7.15 pm on Sunday 17th March. The slightly later start time is to avoid too many people trying to get into the car park at the same time at the beginning of mass in the church next door. We will start promptly though at 7.15 in order to have time for plenty of sets before we finish around 10.45 pm.

 Shoscombe Irish Set Dance Classes continue following dates:-

                 Tuesday 19th March  7.30-8pm basic steps for beginners then usual class 8-10pm

                    "    16th April    "      "     "       "     "        "    "       "

           ALL WELCOME-WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!      Graham & Ann Hunter  01761-435204

 Set dancing at Wotton under Edge - May:
The May date has changed from the 12th to the 19th.  (Apologies to those who go down to Colyford on the third Sunday. We try to avoid clashing).  Not only has the date changed, but the venue has changed.  We shall be at the ex-pub The Halfway House, Minchinhampton,GL6 9AE  It is situated at the top of the hill that rises steeply from Nailsworth in a very beautiful position.  There's a large car park and maybe even the possibility of dancing outside.  We are able to use this venue free of charge, but there will be a charge for refreshments from a cafe of sorts which we will be expected to use. (Contact: Sue Costello, see under "other local groups")

See under "Calendar" for details of ceilis for St Patrick's Day, and other forthcoming events!

Don't miss Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill at Nailsea Folk Club on 20th March 2013. Click on "Nailsea Folk Club" under "Related Sites" to go to website.

Dinder class running tonight, 24th January. But no Sunday dancing at Dinder the first Sunday in April (7th).

St Bon's set dancing cancelled tonight 20th January, as the car park and surrounding roads are all very icy.

Classes/ ceilis resume for the New Year:

St Bon's, Bristol, Sunday 6th January

Dinder, nr Wells, Thursday 10th January

Dinder Sunday ceilis, Sunday 3rd February

Wotton under Edge, Sunday 20th January - CANCELLED-

Shoscombe, Tuesday 5th February

For further details see under "other local groups"

Gifts for Bee man Paul at Dinder Christmas party!

The Dinder set dance class presented gifts including a T shirt for Dinder's dancing bee man at their Christmas party on 13th December. Photos by Val Knight.