Your Ceilidh/Barn Dance

Ceilidh/Ceili? Barn Dance? Contra Dance? Social Dance? Folk Dance? Square Dance?

They are all from the same roots and fundamentally mean the same thing:
A roomful of people having fun dancing to great music, executing the patterns that the caller calls from the stage. No footwork, no need to remember anything - just pure fun!

Whatever your needs, John & Karen Sweeney can make your event a success and ensure that everyone has a great time.

We have a fantastic collection of music on CD from the best bands in the US and the UK and can provide all the sound equipment as part of the deal. John calls and Karen helps on the dance floor.

We can call a very wide range of dances from the 17th century to the 21st century. Slow or fast, bouncy or smooth, easy or challenging - just let us know what sort of event you want and we will pick the dances to make it a success.

Using great recorded music means you only have to pay for the caller. But if you want a live band please let us know and we will work with you to select a suitable one.

Contact us now to discuss your requirements:
John & Karen Sweeney: Telephone: 01233 625 362 (+44-1233-625-362 from outside the UK).
E-mail: John Sweeney at john@modernjive.com.

Bethany & David: "We and our guests had an absolutely fantastic time! They arrived on time, set everything up very quickly, and were great at getting people involved - including some who wouldn’t otherwise be seen on the dance floor! Everyone had so much fun and we got lots of comments about how much people enjoyed it. The dancing was a great way of getting people engaged and talking to each other, and we thoroughly recommend it!"

Beverley Birdsey: "Our guests, including those who didn't join in, have said how much fun the dancing was. It's the talking point whenever we meet anyone who attended. Everyone has mentioned it and apart from the ceremony say it really made the evening. So thank you very much, it was great."

Ann Tutt: "Well, what can I say, what a buzz last Thursday was, I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much!"

Angela Barnes: "Thank you SO MUCH for such uplifting, fun and wonderful dancing sessions at UKC last term. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment".

We recently ran a dance for Dover Primary School with a large number of children involved and everyone said how much they enjoyed it. The fiddler afterwards said he had been playing for 40 years and never seen children handled so well at a barn dance.

Colin Cleal: "Thanks for a great evening. Your expertise and relaxed teaching skill was the key."

Hugh Burnham: "We thoroughly enjoyed the Barn Dance. The caller's attention to detail was excellent, and we felt thoroughly at home even though we are really complete novices."

Mari Shackell: "As newcomers we were made very welcome and felt there was a great, friendly atmosphere at the event."

Thanks to all the dancers all around the world shown in these photographs. If you are a photographer and recognise your work please let me know and I will add an acknowledgement.