To go to a ceilidh by myself

[Stompywompy]

Im in a new town and was supposed to be going to a ceilidh with a lovely new friend I made but she is ill. It was going to be my first time going to a ceilidh and I was sooo excited as its always something i wanted to try - am I going to feel absolutely pathetic if I go by myself? Im in england if that makes a difference

YABU = dont go
YANBU = go

No one will be watching you to notice you’re alone - go for it!

also get yourself to dingle Ireland for the real thing soon :-)

You will be fine going by yourself. Not everyone attends in pairs and once the dancing starts you all mix around anyway.

The best thing to do by yourself- great way to get talking to other people and have a giggle!

I would have said it was one of the better things to go to solo, as you’ll be dancing with lots of people.

Definitely go. Don’t be afraid to ask people to dance- and keep asking. There’s always someone who needs a partner. Have a great time.

Ahhh tha k you guys! I go to loads of stuff alone without batting an eyelid so not sure why this has rattled me, guess I was imagining tight little friendship groups and me being like "shit who am I going to dance with?". But I guess there will be groups of 3s and 5s who need a spare :)

Go! Life is too short. You can always leave if it feels awkward (it won't!)

Should I wear jeans or a swishy dress?

Is it outdoors? Imagining rolling mountains etc lol in that case jeans

Wear something cool and comfortable, and comfortable shoes — it’s pretty good aerobic exercise!

It always makes me read Jane Austen differently to bear in mind thst when her characters dance, it’s this style of dance, essentially. They only put slow, more formal ones in the tv adaptations because they often interpose significant dialogue into dances, plus more difficult to see Darcy as distant and superior if he’s jigging about and getting pink in the face! But her characters in reality would be hot and a little breathless in a warm room.

Wear what you feel comfortable in, it’s a full workout so be prepared to get hot and sweaty. Come back and tell us about all the fun you had.

Folk people are the most down to earth people I’ve ever met.

Wear what you feel comfortable in. Some people will look like they’re about to go hike a mountain and others will be wearing a dress that they’ve had in the back of the wardrobe for 20 years.

I went to one last year solo (though I knew people who'd be there) but was worried about not having a dancing partner however, it made no difference as there were couples where the men sat out after a while and each dance you just went up and found a space opposite or with someone who was also solo.
It was such fun but exhausting! Wear shoes you can dance in and layers so you can remove some when you heat up.

Ceilidhs are great fun. You don't need to go with anyone

Enjoy! Ceilidhs are wonderful fun, so social and a great workout.
Wearing - anything you do wear will likely be somewhat sweaty and dishevelled by the end of the evening, so do think layers and ventilation as much as dressed up. And most certainly shoes you can step out in....
This remined me to look up a local one here over the festivities and go.

As each dance is set up, go and join a group. It's really common for them to ask if anyone needs a partner or for them to reorganise groups into the right number of people. Ive often gone to a ceilidh on my own.

I LOVE ceilidhs and agree with everyone - it will be fine. Don’t wear heels - both for yourself but also as you don’t know the dances (and probably plenty others don’t either!) there’s a fair bit of stepping on each other that will happen. Wear something comfortable and cool and be ready for a great time :)

I used to go to ceilidhs alone in my 20s. Back then, anyway, I was never short of a partner as there was a completely different atmosphere at ceilidhs and it was completely normal for total strangers of any age to come up and ask you to dance. It wasn't like a disco (showing my age!) at all. People go to ceilidhs because they want to take part in the dancing iyswim.

I yearn to go to ceilidhs even now but I never see them advertised. Go and enjoy it!

Go. You will love it.

But, prepare yourself. Danny Bhoy gives some advice here…..

I haven’t been to one in about 20 years. In terms of what to wear, my first ceildhs having been at weddings, my advice is not to wear shape wear which ends at your waist as that is where your partner will have their hand much of the time and so, if you have an above or below shape wear bulge, you will end up feeling very self conscious. Also, if wearing a strapless dress or bra, make sure it fits well. Trying to keep everything in place proved a bit problematic!
As others have said, at the social ones, there was a whole variety of dress codes.

Just wanted to update you: I went and I had the most insanely amazing time. I loved every single second of it and now consider myself addicted to ceilidhs. I want to go to a ceilidh every weekend. I was absolutely bloody boiling though, next time I am doing strappy top and bare legs probably also bare feet

Fantastic! I'm so pleased for you. Sounds like it was well worth going by yourself!

Great news, you have a new hobby.

Amazing. I bloody love a ceilidh but have nobody to go with! They should do ceilidh clubs! So glad you had a great time.

So pleased you enjoyed it. They are brilliant. Very sad I can no longer join in cos of heart problems, but they are a joy!