Ongoing activities
Sudbury Irish Arts offers groups and classes in music, song and dance as well as seasonal activities and ceili dances.
See our calendar below for upcoming events too.
Irish Set Dancing & Ceili Dancing Classes
Ceilí dancing (pronounced ‘Kaylee’) is the traditional group dancing of Ireland and is danced to traditional Irish music. Set Dance is similar to ceili dancing but is a more complex form of dancing with several parts to each dance and is done mostly in squares.
Slow Sessions
The slow session is an informal group for playing tunes and songs at slow & moderate pace. Traditional instruments such as fiddles, accordions, concertinas, whistle etc and accompaniment on guitars, keyboard etc are all welcome.
Song Sessions
Come and join us to learn traditional & folks songs popular in Ireland and Irish communities around the world. No singing experience needed, lyrics are provided, experience the joy of singing together informally, just for fun!
Ceili Dances
Family friendly ceili dances with a live band.
Special interest group lessons & workshops
We host special interest workshops such as ‘Learn to Accompany Traditional Music’ and ‘Harmony Singing’. We welcome your requests for ideas.
Looking for Music Lessons?
We have excellent local traditional teachers in the area.
Karly Schofield teaches fiddle and flute.
Duncan Cameron teaches fiddle, English concertina, guitar, mandolin, Irish bouzouki, bodhrán, tin whistles, harmonica, banjo, and Appalachian dulcimer.
Sudbury Irish Slow Session
2nd & 4th Wednesdays @ Parkside Centre, YMCA
7-9pm
Free to attend
The slow session is an informal group for playing tunes and songs at slow & moderate pace. Traditional instruments such as fiddles, accordions, concertinas, whistle etc and accompaniment on guitars, keyboard etc are all welcome. Come and join us to learn if you are a beginner/intermediate player. Experienced players most welcome too! The session is held biweekly (every 2nd & 4th Wednesday) and sometimes meets outdoors in the summer too. We have a tune list that we update regularly with our common tunes.
Sudbury Irish Set Dance & Ceili Dance Classes
Fees;
$50 Parkside Members & Sudbury Irish Arts Members / $60 Non- Members
Drop-in fee $8
See upcoming classes here;
www.sudburyirisharts.com/events
Ceilí Dancing (pronounced ‘Kaylee’) is the traditional group dancing of Ireland and is danced to traditional Irish music. Ceilí dances can have various formations of 2 - 8 pairs or lines of dancers. Some dances are formed by lines of pairs facing each other while others can be any number of pairs in a circle. Pairs can be of any age or gender. Instructions are called out by the dance caller, it’s easy and fun for anyone!
Irish Set Dancing is similar to ceili dancing but is a more complex form of dancing with several parts to each dance and is done mostly in squares. It’s a form of social dancing which has been popular in Ireland for over 150 years. Sets are danced by four couples in a square, and usually consist of three to six Figures with a short pause between each. The instructions for the dances are called out and helpful hints are given. You don’t need to bring a partner, we switch up pairs during the evening.
Sudbury Song Sessions
Come and join us to learn traditional & folks songs popular in Ireland and Irish communities around the world. No singing experience needed, lyrics are provided, experience the joy of singing together informally, just for fun!
Online collection of Irish song lyrics you can download;
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/152MsavXCROqd66r6f9-f-u8S6lUEX3Pj?usp=sharing
Online collection of Irish, English, Scottish, French Canadian & other world folk & traditional song lyrics you can download;
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19JjakSvlgrDQfFLXFvDe0XXH3jOxZPAn?usp=drive_link
YouTube songs playlist commonly sung at Sudbury traditional sessions & gatherings; https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyJcs1361rclqEX_muPEvuAtlF3i9Dg93