Cut A Shine Hoedown and Ceilidh Band | Cut A Shine Hoedown collective

Welcome to the website for the Cut A Shine Hoedown and Ceilidh Band.

Cut A Shine are a London based troupe of traditional musicians, dynamic Ceilidh dancers and crazy callers determined to spread the word that the Hoe Down is a’happening. From Hoxton to Humberside, from Amnesty to Bestival, Cut A Shine are putting ceilidh dance back on the map – whether at sell out London Ceilidh Dances or Barn Dances at top summer festivals. This “Anarchic Hillbilly Barn Dancing Squad” host a rip-roaring, thigh-slapping, pavement-stomping, exhilarating, heart thumping, blood pumping barn dance and Ceilidh show. Whilst the banjo and the fiddle set the tone, the callers instruct any audience through do-si-do’s and strip the willows, until all are involved! Whether you are after Scottish Dance, Irish Dance, Barn Dance, we can host a Ceilidh for you.

Cut A Shine Nights and London Ceilidh Dances.

The band started out by hosting our own London Ceilidh and Barn Dance parties at venues across London: from Warehouses to old church halls. These quickly grew into monster bashes with bands, DJs and all sorts. Then we started getting into Festivals, and it seemed that our brand of rip roaring fancy dressed Ceilidh dance was just what the doctor ordered!

We now host Monthly London Ceilidh Dances and large bespoke/themed Ceilidh and Barn Dances across London - from all night warehouse bashes to balls in resplendent and decedent venues.

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The Scots have Ceilidh, the Irish Set Dancing and Ceili, The English have their Country Dance. Deep in the Southern States of America the real Cowboys and mountain folk had Square Dancing. AKA Hoedown, AKA Barn Dance. Fast and furious when danced right, this style of dance gives rise to the classic calls of “swing your partner”, “do si doh!” and “buffalo girls go round the outside”, made famous by Malcolm McLaren in the early 80s.

Come and join the Cut A Shine Barn Dance crew, now in their 10th year, as we explore, learn and rip it up with Authentic Appalachian Square Dance for a proper Hoedown. Dance to a live band of Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar, Double Bass and Mandolin. The dances are deceptively easy to learn, and fun to dance. Learn classics like Buffalo Girls, Shoot the Owl, Duck for the Oyster. Rave like it's 1865, in the era before electricity, and master the art of social partner dancing.

Beginners always welcomed.

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