What's on?

For lively Irish music and social dancing, most Sunday nights at Southmead Community Centre, 248 Greystoke Avenue, Southmead, Bristol BS10 6BQ, from 8 pm. (6 times a year, no class because we are running workshop/ ceili in Wotton under Edge on 2nd Sunday of month. Occasionally other Sundays may be cancelled - ring Sharon on 07745 376 499 to check)

For all other local events, click on "other local groups" and "Calendar" above.

For accommodation near Southmead Community Centre, and for how to get there by public transport, click on "contact/ find us" above.







Saturday 29 June 2013


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 

Tuesday 18 June 2013

 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

Tuesday 11 June 2013

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