We’re back open for Christmas celebrations at Halsway Manor and we’ll be cooking-up a fine feast of festive delights with plenty to keep you entertained on our Christmas House Party!
The team will be Geoff Cubitt as our dance caller and teacher, with Will Pound and Linda Game providing the music. Gareth Kiddier is back to host the event too, with his team of merry elves… As ever, we love to include your skills and talents if you’d like to be involved, especially in the bar sessions in the evening.
Expect enjoyable and varied folk activities – music, dancing, singing, quizzes, crafts, informal performances (bring your party piece!) and general merry-making. Plus great food, roaring log fires and convivial company. Bring your instruments, dancing shoes, and walking boots too if you fancy a stroll, and prepare for a Merry Christmas. The only thing we can’t guarantee is snow!
Who is it for?
Anyone who would like to spend Christmas in the festive surrounding of Halsway, or just doesn’t fancy doing the washing up for a few days…
The Team
Gareth Kiddier has been playing on the folk dance scene for in excess of 15 years and is a passionate dancer, all of which shows in his driving rhythmical support of the dance tunes using well considered harmonic chords. He is a regular host and musician at Halsway, and will ensure that you have an enjoyable stay at the manor.
Geoff Cubitt is well known as a caller for American Squares and Contra and English Ceilidh and is well respected among his peers. He has considerable experience as a dancer himself, particularly in Appalachian dancing, performing at many festivals. His experience as a dancer stands him in good stead when calling, as his sympathy with those on the floor means that he is helpful to beginners as well as extending the expert dancers.
One of the finest harmonica and melodeon players of his generation, Will Pound has pushed the boundaries working on and with a number of projects and musicians which in the past and present include Will Pound and Eddy Jay, Stevens & Pound, Jenn Butterworth, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Liz Carrol, Martin Simpson, Guy Chambers, Concerto Caledonia, Robbie Williams and The Hillsborough Charity Single. He has travelled across most of Europe and as far as Australia for his music delighting and giving audiences awe inspiring performances.
Linda Game originally trained as a classical violinist, but now has many years of folk experience under her belt. With stunning improvisational fluency and rhythm, she’s an exciting dance musician, playing until recently as half of the ECDB with Gareth.