An English Ceilidh in London

This Saturday 2 June there’s a chance to see some traditional English dancing when a free to attend English Ceilidh takes place along the banks of the Thames as part of the Coin Street Festival. The event is happening at the Bernie Spain Gardens, the area between the Oxo Tower and Gabriel’s Wharf on the south bank of the Thames between Blackfriar’s and Waterloo bridges.

They’ll be demonstrations of Morris dancing , sword dancing and clog dancing as well as traditional English music from bands Hekety and Gig CB, while Boka Halat fuses the English dance music with sounds from Gambia and Senegal. Morris dancing was originally introduced to England in the 16th century by sailors returning from Spain.

As well as the dancing and music there are arts and crafts demonstrations including wood turning, blacksmithing, willow weaving, spinning, bee-keeping and honey making and stalls selling food, traditional beers and wine. There are two stages in use the whole afternoon and the Ceilidh runs from 1pm-7pm, admission is free. Below is the running order for the day.

Ceilidh Stage–LWT Grass
1pm–2.50pm Hekety
1.45pm Thrales Rapper (Morris Dance)
2.50pm Camden Cloggers (Morris Dance)
3.10pm–5pm GIG CB
4pm Hammersmith Morris Men (Morris Dance)
5pm New Esperance Morris (Morris Dance)
5.10pm–7pm Boka Halat

Morris Stage–Bernie Spain Gardens
1pm Hammersmith Morris Men
1.30pm New Esperance
2pm Camden Cloggers
2.30pm Thrales Rapper
3pm Hammersmith Morris Men
3.30pm New Esperance
4pm Camden Cloggers
4.30pm Thrales Rapper
5pm Hammersmith Morris Men
5.30pm Camden Cloggers
6pm New Esperance
6.30pm Thrales Rapper

Maypole–Observation Point
1pm-2pm Open Workshop
2.30pm Hillmead Maypole Demonstration
3pm–5pm Open Workshops