manx celtic music and dance

Chance to Dance! Perree Bane beginners’ classes start

19 Oct 2009

If you happen to be walking in the vicinity of Rushen Abbey on a Sunday night, you may hear the strains of traditional Manx music coming from the old village hall. Why not pop in and see for yourself the bustle of activity as Perree Bane members meet for their weekly dance practice!

Perree Bane has been going strong since 1982, aiming to keep the excitement and spontaneity of Manx traditional dance alive on the Island and at festivals further afield.

Dancing, whether for practices or performances, is always accompanied by live music provided by talented musicians. Instruments include (though not always at the same time) whistle, guitar, fiddle, piano accordion, concertina, mandolin, bohdran and flute. New musicians and dancers are always welcome to come along and join in the Perree Bane sessions whatever your skill level. Children can come along with a parent or carer and dance with the younger members of the group.

You may just want to get a little exercise in a novel way, enjoy the live folk music, meet new friends or even become a performer and get to wear the super costume! You will probably have seen Perree Bane out and about dancing. The men wear loaghtan wool trousers, unusual tasseled hats also made from the loaghtan wool and white jackets (hence the group name Perree Bane, which is Manx Gaelic for white jacket). The ladies wear a contrasting red jacket and long woven wool skirts, the striped pattern of which copies a cloth known as Juan y Cleary’s weave.

This autumn, for six weeks, Perree Bane will be running introductory classes to teach the basic Manx dance steps and some of the more popular dances. Why not give it a go – before long you could be joining in the fun!

Perree Bane’s classes start on:
Sunday October 4th 7-8pm
Ballasalla Village Hall

Cost is only £3 a session and includes tea & biscuits. You are welcome to come along to any of the sessions.  

Recent News

Archive by Year