Ceilidh Tea Dances started with a trial dance in September 2023 in Eastgate Theatre Studio. It was such a success that a larger venue was sought for the next one. St Joseph’s Hall obliged for the next 3 but that too became too crowded.
So MacFarlane Hall was chosen for the rest of the Peebles dances. We enjoyed the benefit of a generous grant from SBC Happier Healthier Stronger Fund which stipulated that we had to take the dances out to rural Tweeddale as well. Innerleithen Parish Church, Newlands Centre and Broughton Village Hall, were all wonderful spaces to hold a dance in. Borders Wheels provided transport. We hoped to spread the word about dementia awareness in the communities and get rid of any stigma that might still linger in any minds to prove that people living with dementia can still participate in normal activities with their friends and families and have a great time. People came in Wheelchairs and with Walkers and danced in and around them as part of a set whilst the band played on. Whole families from babes in arms to grandparents in their nineties joined in the fun. The whole experience was gloriously exciting and memorable throughout 2024.
Now in 2025 we have not enough volunteers to manage one dance a month. So the schedule starts again on Friday March 14th, followed by 9 May, 4 July, 12 September, 7 November, culminating we hope in a grand Christmas Ceilidh Tea Dance party on 19th December. All will be held in Cardrona Village Hall which fits our specifications very well, with generous parking around, no steps to contend with, and a beautiful green outside in Summertime. Our splendid resident live ceilidh band, Dave Robb and Friends will continue to love to play for us, and Borders Wheels will provide transport for those who need it to the venue and back.
Tickets must be bought – £5 per adult, kids 12 and under free – from Eastgate Theatre Box Office.
We could not run the tea dances without a team of wonderful volunteers, who prepare the teas and coffees with cakes and fruit, and serve the dancers and spectators, they hump tables and chairs around, take money at the door, and generally keep the place buzzing. We shall love having the kids from SchoolsOut to volunteer their help again. They are really great, and very willing and helpful. Volunteering in the community all goes to their Saltire Awards, so we all do each other a favour.
Please support the Tea Dances again this year. If we get more volunteers we can put them on every month – see our Facebook page Dementia Friendly Tweeddale for announcements about this and everything else that happens in our busy calendar.
