Article Source: Eilidh’s Trust
Last Updated: 10 January 2024 10:07
Artists such as BBC presenter and Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop, Royal National Mòd gold medallists Emma MacLeod and Alasdair Whyte, actor, author and filmmaker Dòmhnall Eòghainn MacKinnon, Trail West’s drummer Andrew Findlater and BBC newsreader Karen Elder will don their tartan and sequins to vie to be crowned the Strictly Come Ceilidh Dancing champion on Saturday 20 January.
They will be joined by musician Abigail Pryde of Heron Valley, piper Lorne McDougall, whose work has been featured in the Disney film Brave and on Doctor Who, and BBC sport’s Ali Govig Maclennan. Further dancers are to be announced.
The event, taking place at Glasgow University Union, will also raise funds for the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust, a youth music charity established in memory of the 14-year-old from the Isle of Barra who was a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
This is the second Strictly Come Ceilidh Dancing competition with the first having been held in early 2020.
Dancers will compete in four rounds, putting their skills to the test across a range of ceilidh dances from waltzes to a schottische. They will then be scored by judges on the night who will be Tide Lines front man Robert Robertson, world-renowned Highland dancer Rachel McLagan and Gaelic singer and actor Darren Maclean. The highest scoring dancing couple will step away with the prized 2024 trophy.
The dancers will perform to the sound of accordionist Martainn Skene and fiddler Jamie Macdonald, who have come together to form the Strictly Come Ceilidh Dancing band.
Comperes will be Harris gin ambassador Iona Cairns and competition organiser Donald Maroot MacLeod. He said: “We are thrilled to bring Strictly Come Ceilidh Dancing back after a break due to the pandemic. This will be a night full of fun and laughter for all the family and guaranteed to beat the January blues.
“We have secured a stellar line up who will attempt to put their best feet forward to test their footwork with the Highland Schottische, Canadian Barn Dance and many other ceilidh dance favourites. I am excited to see who will be crowned king and queen of the dancefloor as the competition is likely to be fierce. I am so grateful that so many talented people have made time for this event which will not only be entertaining but also raise money for youth music charity Eilidh’s Trust.”
Singer Emma MacLeod commented: “I am looking forward to getting onto the dance floor, having some fun and raising money for this great charity. I’ve been training for this my whole life and I am confident that my skills will kick in as soon as the ceilidh band strikes up.”
Judge Robert Roberston of Tide Lines added: “There’s been a fair bit of trash talking going on already between the dancers so it’s set to be a highly competitive affair which might make it a tough job for us as judges! Thankfully we’ll have the audience to help us keep the peace and decide who will walk away as ceilidh dancing king and queen 2024.”
Paul Hughes of Eilidh’s Trust thanked the organisers for their support. He said: “What better way to get 2024 off to a fun and entertaining start than seeing some of Scotland’s biggest names in trad music and broadcasting put their dancing skills to the test and public judgement. We are very grateful to the organisers and all the participants for raising money to support our work with young musicians, therefore it’s very appropriate that we benefit from an event that has music and dance at its heart. We wish all the dancers the best of luck.”
Strictly Come Ceilidh Dancing will take place at Glasgow University Union on Saturday 20 January 2024 at 7.30pm. Ticket prices will be £15 for adults and £5 for under 18s. Children are most welcome but u16 need to be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at the event.
The former Adelphi Terrace Public School at Florence Street has been transformed into new long-term home for leading visual arts organisation, The Common Guild.
READ MOREOver 30,000 runners will participate in the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run this weekend, making it the biggest staging of the event yet!
READ MOREComedian Craig Hill takes his latest hit show, I've Been Sitting On This For A While!, out on tour across Scotland later this month!
READ MOREAfter a string of sold-out events across the US, Amazing Silent Discos is bringing its unforgettable retro silent disco to the iconic Old Fruitmarket for one night only on Saturday 2 November!
READ MOREIf you're looking for exciting ways to keep the kids entertained this half-term, look no further than Northern Ireland!
READ MOREThe IRN-BRU Carnival is offering 1000 free tickets to charity and community groups across Glasgow.
READ MOREExhibition on Screen brings the National Gallery's stunning Van Gogh exhibition to the big screen, along with a deep dive into his fascinating life and incredible skill.
READ MOREHistorical re-enactors will be heading to Historic Scotland sites across the country this October for this year's Great Big Living History Week!
READ MOREThe Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) has today revealed the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2024’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award
READ MOREPeople affected by pregnancy and baby loss will be joining together to take part in a range of activities to remember and talk about their babies this Baby Loss Awareness Week.
READ MOREThis festive season, Entertainers, one of the UK's leading entertainment producers debut their first Christmas show, Step Into Christmas, at The Pavilion Theatre Glasgow!
READ MOREIt's official, stars of the BBC's Gladiators, Sabre & Apollo, will be joining the fun at this year's sold-out AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great Scottish Run this Saturday 5 October!
READ MOREEscape to the country this autumn for plenty of family fun, come rain or shine at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride!
READ MOREThe King's Theatre Glasgow is thrilled to announce that Radisson Blu Hotel Glasgow is sponsoring, Peter Pan!
READ MOREAfter the sell-out success of Scottish comedian Paul Black's All Sorts show at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, he is delighted to be bringing it to the Armadillo for one night only!
READ MOREMiller Homes, Scotland's leading homebuilder, is brightening the streets across the West of Scotland this autumn as it celebrates the fifth anniversary of its Home Safe campaign.
READ MOREEvent that welcomed huge crowds at Dean Castle, will add a sprinkle of stardust with magical festive fun held at both the original venue and a new location at Beecraigs Country Park.
READ MORELeading Scottish camping and outdoor specialist brand, Vango, has announced it is working with VisitScotland to promote responsible tourism across the country.
READ MOREEx Scotland rugby internationals Tim Visser and Kath Vass joined 800 Men and Women for Vets Fest 2024 to Celebrate Vets Rugby and Raise Funds for Wooden Spoon.
READ MOREScotland Internationals and Glasgow Warriors teammates Duncan Weir & Kyle Steyn will be this year's official starters for the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run.
READ MOREGareth Gates invites you to an unforgettable evening as he brings his new self-produced show, Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs from the Movies, to The Pavilion Theatre.
READ MOREFuture Woodlands Scotland and bp are on a mission to add more trees and green spaces to Scotland’s cities and towns.
READ MOREAward-winning actor Katy Stephens will play The White Witch when The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe comes to The King's Theatre Glasgow in June!
READ MOREA joyous switch-on of the Christmas lights in George Square will signify the start of the festive season in Glasgow!
READ MOREThe Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, today invites music fans to ‘Have their SAY’ and vote for their favourite Scottish album, plus announces Karen Dunbar and more as judges.
READ MOREFor a limited time, Cineworld presents a seismic lineup of blockbuster favourites, new and old, in immersive 4DX – all for just £5 a ticket or £3 for Unlimited members.
READ MOREFamily attraction Flip Out is gearing up for a Halloween experience with an apocalyptic theme!
READ MOREOver 40,000 tickets have already been snapped up for this year's GlasGLOW: Trick or Treat and organisers have just revealed that 7 extra nights will be added from the 4th – 10th November!
READ MOREBraehead Shopping Centre announces the opening of leading British performance sportswear brand, Castore.
READ MORECaptain Fantastic, the UK's leading children's party company, is supporting Dyslexia Awareness Week in Scotland with two fun interactive online parties.
READ MORE