Ceilidh Dance & Folk Music Workshops for Schools in North East England
Listening and dancing to Real. Live. Music.
Ceilidh Monsters gives children that very rare thing a chance to dance to music that’s not been simplified in order that they can join in. The chance to hear and dance to real live folk music played by real live musicians. Once they’ve learned a dance with Ceilidh Monsters they are ready for a ceilidh anywhere!
Each session includes captivating performances introducing the children to real live folk music.
Then the best bit – the children get to dance to the music they’ve just been inspired by. Dancing all together sharing a sense of being part of a bigger group.
For a fuller over-view of our workshops and residencies please download our Information Pack
Benefits for Schools
Ceilidhs in Schools
We’ve been delighted to discover our folk music and ceilidh dance workshops and residencies have multiple benefits for schools. Researching the National Curriculum guidelines we found that our sessions cover many subject ares from Music, PE (dance), PSHE and social cohesion to name a few.
Please download our Information Pack for further information
National Curriculum KS 1/2 Music Curriculum Fulfillment
Live Performance Mandate: The curriculum requires pupils to “listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.” Ceilidh Monsters fulfills the live requirement through direct acoustic performance in the school space.
Interrelated Dimensions of Music: Pupils are required to identify and respond to pulse, rhythm, tempo, and structure. The progressive nature of ceilidh phrasing teaches children to physically track 8-bar and 16-bar musical structures, mapping movement to tempo shifts.
National Curriculum KS 1/2 PE (Dance) Curriculum Fulfillment
Key Stage 1 Movement: Statutory guidelines state pupils must be taught to “perform dances using simple movement patterns.” The workshops introduce basic progressive step sets and directional changes.
Key Stage 2 Progression: Statutory guidelines state pupils must “perform dances using a range of movement patterns” while developing “flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance.” Ceilidh formations require spatial awareness, physical control within a moving group, and the execution of sequential choreography.
National Curriculum KS 1/2 PSHE & Social Cohesion Fulfillment
Collaborative Interaction: The curriculum emphasizes mutual respect and collaborative working. Ceilidh dancing requires continuous partner switching, group communication, and collective physical synchronization, directly supporting peer inclusion.
Praise for Ceilidh Monsters
“The Monster Ceilidh Band school workshops are wonderful. The children are fully engaged in something which gets their minds and bodies working while also encouraging collaboration. The impact on their musical knowledge, cultural heritage, teamwork and health is immense. It is truly cross curricular in its approach and ultimately makes them happier, more connected humans.”
Mr J Russell-Thompson
Senior Leader for KS2, Year 6 class teacher, Preston Grange Primary
“It was a lively and well-paced session. Children had the opportunity to hear high quality live music from a range of genres and were encouraged to discuss what they heard using musical vocabulary. Pupils were led through a clear, progressive series of dance steps in order to perform a ceilidh together which they clearly enjoyed. It was a good balance of listening, moving and conversation.”
Charlotte Law
Head of North Tyneside and Music Education Hub
Partner Schools
Here are some of the schools Ceilidh Monsters has worked with
Book Us Now!
We cater to primary schools across North East England. To check availability, request pricing, or discuss a residency, contact Kieran directly