Music and television stars line up to become ceilidh dancing champions

Stars of Scotland's trad music scene and Gaelic broadcasting will gather later this month to compete in a ceilidh dancing dance off all in aid of charity.

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.

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