Here’s Angi Beckett our Ceilidh and Barn Dance Caller talking about her work with the Hessle Ceilidh Band in her own words:

I love calling for dancing. There is a great energy, which is reciprocal between caller and dancers, and the more fun the dancers have, the more I have, too. I adore dancing and believe it should be enjoyable; I try to make every event I call for one I’d like to be dancing at.

Although it’s very satisfying when a dance goes perfectly, it’s often far more fun when it goes a bit haywire, with people giggling as they dance.

I came to dance calling accidentally; the folk dance group in Norfolk, of which I was a member, lost 1 of its 2 callers. Feeling sorry for the remaining caller, I offered to help out occasionally. ‘Occasionally’ grew into often running the group alone. Having served my voluntary apprenticeship, I moved onto public calling, also somewhat accidentally. After seeing an article in the local paper about my starting up a new folk dance group, a caller rang me out of the blue to ask if I’d cover for him 2 days later as he was unable to make it. So with a cobbled-together programme and much trepidation, I managed to successfully run my first public barn dance.

Word got round and I soon started calling regularly with the Hessle Ceilidh Band. After a baptism of fire at a New Year’s Eve ceilidh, I’ve been delighted to continue calling at all sorts of events with this talented band and look forward to many more enjoyable dances with them.

To book The Hessle Ceilidh Band or contact Angi call Quentin on 07877434739 or email hessleceilidhband@yahoo.co.uk