Ceilidh Caleerie welcome visitors from Spain

Portobello promenade was brightened up in May by a colourful group of Spanish “Sevillanas” dancers, “Aires de Alcossebre”. The group of six dancers from Alcossebre on the Orange Blossom coast of Spain (roughly half-way between Barcelona and Valencia) performed a total of six gigs, supported by Ceilidh Caleerie, the Scots Music Group’s ceilidh band class, for three of the events. Edinburgh’s erratic Scottish summer weather improved considerably during their stay. leaving the visitors with a very favourable impression of the Scottish capital. Sadly, the weather deteriorated as soon as they left. Bring back the sunshine, please!

Locations varied from the Dalriada Bar in Portobello, courtesy of the owner Terry Magill, to the Farmers’ Market in Castle Terrace, a ceilidh for the Corstorphine Homecoming Trust, and the Penicuik Folk Club at the Roadhouse in Penicuik. The dancers responded like true professionals to the varying venues, and persuaded each audience to join in with a few rumbas at the end of each performance!

Their final performance was at Edinburgh University’s Institute for Applied Language Studies in Hill Place, where they danced as part of the language school’s social programme to a small but discerning audience of English language students from all around the world.

The dancers were offered warm Scottish hospitality by members of Ceilidh Caleerie and friends. Many new friendships were made and old ones cemented. New skills with PA systems were also learned! Ceilidh Caleerie are hopeful of receiving an invitation to return to Spain in the spring of 2011, where they may be invited to play at a regional music festival in Castellon, capitalising on the success of their previous “Ceilidh in Spain” of June 2009.

Sue Sellar