It’s talk through – before you walk through – before you dance at Judy’s easy Minehead exercise country barn dance ceilidh classes for Exmoor and West Somerset

People who have been to a barn dance / ceilidh dance / country dance will know that it is usual to have a walk-through of each dance before the music starts. Minehead, Exmoor and West Somerset exercise dance class leader Judy is passionate about this type of dancing so wants everyone to be able to enjoy it, whatever their age or abilities. Talking through before the walk through is designed so that everyone can participate in the country dance exercise classes with confidence and enjoyment whatever their level or ability.

Individual country dances / ceilidh dances / barn dances are based on a number of different dance movements, called figures. Individual figures are very easy to learn separately. Each dance figure consists of a number of steps and each step is done to a number of beats of the music. Once the individual dance figures are learned, dancers find it easy to learn new dances of which there are very many to enjoy!

So, in a very simple example, the forward and back figure that starts the Galopede dance would be done to four steps forward and then four steps back, each step being a music beat. Easy isn’t it!

With many years of adult teaching practice, Judy knows how important it is to always work with the different abilities of the class members she has present so the way the class is organised might vary at her discretion but the general format is as follows.

The class starts with everyone seated while Judy talks through the figures that will be used in the first dance. At this point, she will discuss and demonstrate how to do a do-si-do, a right hand turn or a swing, whatever is needed to know for the first dance. Where there are alternatives, she will always start with the easiest. So, for example, steps can be walked or skipped depending on confidence.

Then comes the walk through. The dance class moves onto the dance floor and, with guidance from Judy, walks through the dance being learned. Only when the dancers are confident that they can do the group of figures that make up the dance will they move on to the actual dance.

When the dance music starts, Judy continues giving prompts to remind the dancers about the next dance movements, using an amplified headset so she can be heard above the recorded music and (frequently) the laughter of the dancers.

As the dance progresses, the number of prompts are reduced as the dancers become more confident and get to know the dance.

At the end of the dance, the dancers move back to the chairs for refreshment and a rest. When the dancers are ready, the talk-through for the next dance begins. Generally, during an hour long class, around four dances will be explained and danced.

Dance exercise classes are fun and a good way of getting regular exercise for all ages and abilities. Barn dances / ceilidh dances / country dances are very social and have been giving enjoyment to people of all ages and abilities for hundreds of years. They are easy to learn and fun to do. If you would like to join in the fun of Judy’s dance exercise classes or for more information, you can contact Judy through Barnbuskers which is the Exmoor and West Somerset ceilidh country barn dance band she leads and organises through Barnbuskers contact page. If you would like to know more about Judy, checkout Judy’s profile page. But most importantly, as Judy says, ‘have fun and keep dancing!’