Wonderful Sauchiehall Street Circle Dance Day - Thursday 1 June 2023

Street dancing for the 'Young at Heart'

What a great day we had. A real gathering of Circle Dancers from as far a field as Carluke and Forth in South Lanarkshire, Paisley in Renfrewshire, Vale of Leven in West Dunbartonshire, Port Glasgow in Inverclyde, Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, Blanefield in Stirlingshire, and last but not least from Edinburgh. Firstly we enjoyed our tour of the Willow Tea Room. After our tea and cakes we flowed out on to Sauchiehall Street all ready to dance.

What a joyous celebration of dancing together, greeting each other, and relishing the dance, the music and being led by a very enthusiastic dance leader. Quickly the music embraced the dancers, and the circle began to form and then widen out to immerse the onlookers.

Many passerbys stopped to take a photo, some stayed a little longer to watch and wonder, and some stepped into the dancing mesmerised by the sheer energy of dancers and music.  Others wondered a little longer and when given one of our leaflets asked questions about Circle Dancing. At least ten people joined the dancing. We were particularly pleased to  welcome into the dance two young teenage boys and also a young man from the Middle East, perhaps a refugee.

We met and talked to lots of people all day. Some of them were tourists - from Canada, the US and Holland. One young woman stood transfixed by the music of one dance which was from her country of Finland. A young woman from a local newspaper interviewed me on the street, and then and there became a dancer with us. A local Glasgow Councillor stopped on the way to a meeting, gave me her card and took some leaflets away with her.  Many busy people took time out while passing to take a leaflet.  I noticed several Deliveroo cyclists taking a breather from their work, looking longingly at the dance.

We really did get what we wanted from the day - the chance to meet up with other dancers from a' the airts and enjoy ourselves. In so doing we had a chance to introduce as many folk to Circle Dancing as we could.  And as a big bonus met and made good friends with the staff at the Willow Tea Rooms.

A great day was had by all.