folk dance has been the essence of sidmouth folk festival since the very beginning in 1955!
And this summer will be no exception. With a full week of amazing dances and workshops, the 2025 festival promises to be another fun-filled week at the seaside!
See below for further details
american square dance
American Square Dance Workshops with Rhodri Davies. The one where everyone is a square! An engaging introduction to squares – positions, progressions, styles, and key moves, all set to lively music by Box of Frogs.
bal
Bal with the magical cello and accordion duo Confluence who will whisk you around the dance floor with sublime music and dance from France, Belgium and the Nordic countries. Celebration Bal. Let the energy soar and spirits rise with a tour through invigorating Euro, Balfolk and Scandinavian dances with joyful music from Tom Evans & Harriet Barton, Confluence and Oscina.
contra
Contra Dances and Workshops with the wonderful Louise Siddons, Rachel Shapiro-Wallace or Rhodri Davies with music provided by Box of Frogs, Contrasauraus or Audrey Jaber & Alex Cumming. The best of contemporary contras, with just enough challenge to keep things interesting. Round out the week with a Celebration Contra called by Charlotte Rich-Griffin. The Contra for all series gives a chance to practice your contra skills with friendly dances that focus on musicality, connection, and confidence.
early dance
Early Dance Workshops – Step back in time with “The Dancing Mister”! Across three fun-filled workshops for dancers and musicians, Tim Walker and Terry Mann & James Larcombe bring to life the vibrant dances and music of medieval Europe. Learn the elegant 15th-century Italian dances of the courts, alongside the lively Bransles from Arbeau’s Orchésographie.
Early Dance Music Workshops – with Terry Mann & James Larcombe. Learn to play medieval music for early dances from the Pre-Playford era. All acoustic instruments welcome, and music provided. This workshop precedes the Early Dance workshops.
English Dance
English Country Dance Workshop with Louise Siddons and Audrey Jaber & Alex Cumming. Go beyond Grimstock heys and three-couple sets. This English social dance workshop takes full advantage of the genre’s breadth of music, formations, and figures. Energy and experience will be rewarded with intricacy and style. If you aren’t sure what a Grimstock hey is, look out for the beginner-friendly dance workshops, focusing on success with laughter along the way.
English Dance with Brian Stanton, Matt Normal & Paul Hutchinson and Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer. Come and dance a selection of modern English country dances that are set to old tunes. Also join Brian Stanton or Louise Siddons for English Dance workshops.
euro dance
Dance whirling waltzes, magical mazurkas, playful polskas, beautiful bourrées and more in the company of Oscina or Confluence, with Tom Evans & Harriet Barton, and Kerry Fletcher – then join Euro dance workshops throughout the week! Workshops include Bal Basics, Beguiling Breton, Gateway to Gascony, Round Ronds and Visit to Vendee.
irish set dance
Irish Set Dance with Kevin & Carol Monaghan will lead you through a variety of sets from various regions of Ireland, putting into practice what has been taught in their workshops. Exhilarating live music From WillPower. Great craic!
mixed dance
Mixed Dance with Brian Stanton, Louise Siddons or Rhodri Davies. An ancient and modern mix of English and American country dances, with uplifting music from Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, Box of Frogs or Audrey Jaber & Alex Cumming.
playford
Playford Dance Workshop with Andrew Swaine. An introduction to 17th and 18th century country dances. Perfect to ease you into the Playford Party later, to learn more about what it’s all about, or simply to miss no opportunity to enjoy something that’s still going strong after 400 or so years! All welcome!
Playford Party. Ceilidh like a cavalier! A celebration of Playford dances in an intimate setting. With Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer and callers Andrew Swaine & Daisy Black.
regency
Regency Dance Workshop with Elisabeth Hinchliffe with music from Matt Norman & Paul Hutchinson or Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer. Dancing in Jane Austen’s lifetime: how cotillions and quadrilles landed like fireworks amongst country dances and minuets. Workshops over four mornings to learn something of all these dances and the fashionable new French steps.
scandi
Learn how to dance the Swedish Schottis, Slängpolska and Polska in our Scandi workshops led by Andy Parr accompanied by the delightful music of Tom Evans & Harriet Barton. Slängpolska is an elegant couple dance combines polska footwork with twists and turns that beginners and experienced dancers alike will enjoy. From dancers wishing to crack the basic steps to those looking to perfect their ‘svikt’ and turn, the Polska workshop is suitable for all levels. Learn how to dance the Swedish Schottis which is quite different to the French Schottishe and has plenty of ‘svikt’.
step
Stepping in Ceilidh Dancing with Toby Bennett and music by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer. Not your full on ‘step dancing’ but relatively simple, traditional steps to spice up your dancing. We’ll learn a few steps and try them out in a some dances that we’ll also be doing at the Step Ceilidh Party.
Step Ceilidh Party with Brown Boots plus Will Chamberlain. Ceilidh dancing with the extra, lively rhythms in your feet can be fun, surprisingly easy, and brings another level of joy to dancing. Plus, some exciting step and clog dancey floor spots for you to enjoy. Don’t miss this wonderful party! MC Jane Bird and guest callers.
Caller style
A variety of teaching and calling styles are used at dances and dance workshops. These will be listed in the Main Programme which is out in July.
Caller Listings Key
A variety of teaching and calling styles are used at dances and dance workshops. The calling/teaching style of an event is indicated in the event descriptions using a code: (P), (G) or (A):
(P) indicates that an event will be called without using role terms, emphasizing positional patterns, flow, and relationships between dancers (e.g. neighbour, opposite, people facing the windows).
(G) indicates that an event will be called using gendered role terms, in addition to positional descriptors.
(A) indicates that an event will be called using alternative ungendered role terms (e.g. lead/follow or larks/robins), in addition to positional descriptors.
discover more
From American to Bal, Contra to Playford, Regency, English, Irish & more, there are a wide range of dance workshops each day, catering for a wide range of experience and ability. Workshops are open to Season, All-in-One or Workshop Ticket holders, or tickets can be bought on the door, space permitting.
You don’t need to bring a partner to any of the dance workshops.
like dance?
Check out What’s On for ceilidhs, display dance, LNEs, and even more dance workshops.