It’s so easy to spend life sitting down when you are retired. Since moving about is optional, it’s easy not to do it!. But all the experts say that movement and exercise is the best recipe for a long life and happiness. As a musician and member of Judy’s Barnbuskers Ceilidh Barn Dance Band, I see lots of country dancing. It’s just that I don’t do it! So I thought I’d check out Judy’s Ceilidh Class, 5pm to 6 pm, at Minehead Rugby Club Hall, Alcombe, West Somerset. It was brilliant and I had a great time.
Like myself, the people appeared to be mainly of retirement age and were really friendly. Several checked to make sure I had someone to dance with. The country dances were easy and fun. There was no need to know specific steps; walking skipping or whatever was ok. The hour’s fun and friendship was just the price of a coffee. Parking the car was easy in the big Minehead Rugby Club car park.
(Below is a photo of me in Barnbuskers Band, playing at the Martock fete, where I’m rather more at home … but which doesn’t give me the exercise I could get from dancing).
Judy, as always, was very friendly and welcoming to everyone. A few minutes after 5pm, she organised everyone into a big circle of pairs. The atmosphere was cheerful and chatty. I had no partner so Judy danced with me. The dance was simple but fun and Judy walked the dance through before the recorded music was put on. The dance was called Coming around the Circle! Here’s how it went.
Coming Around the Circle.
4 steps walking forward holding hands with your partner. 4 steps walking backwards holding hands with your partner. 8 steps walking forwards holding hands with your partner. Do-si-do your partner and then swing. That was all there was to it. As the music repeated the tune, we walked forward again to repeat the steps. That was it! Really easy! But it was fun and everyone was smiling and laughing.
The do-si-do was done by walking forward towards your partner and then past their right hand shoulder and then backwards to your place.
The swinging was done by linking right arms and walking forward to circle on the spot but could be done by lots of other methods, but this was the easiest and safest recommended to retirees like myself.
The recorded traditional folk music was played on the Minehead Rugby Club PA system and filled the room nicely. The diddly diddly tunes were very danceable.
The class lasted for an hour with lots more dances introducing different moves but needing no previous knowledge. Everyone joined in every dance. It was gentle exercise and the hour went really quickly.
At the end of the hour, before 6pm, Judy announced a dance called Circassian Circle. Everyone held hands in a big circle. Then everyone walked into the centre of the circle and back a couple of times, promenaded around the circle and then did some swinging. It was very easy and a nice dance to end with.
So, if you are retired and looking for local activities that are affordable on a pension that include music, movement, friendship and fun, Judy’s Ceilidh Classes are well worth checking out. On the 3rd December 2026, there is also the Ceilidh Class Christmas Party. Tickets for the Christmas Party are available from Judy at her ceilidh class for the price of a couple of cups of coffee! What’s not to like?
I’ll be putting my clarinets aside and going each Wednesday at 5pm from now, so I hope to see you there!
