24 - 27 May 2024
24 - 27
May
2024
Neeld
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(From the Bridge if it does not know your location)

CURRENT PROGRAMME OF EVENTS (Others may follow)

Click on the event name or time to get more detail.

Jump to: Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

Events on Friday 26th May 2023
TimeWhatWithPrice
19:30 - 23:00Contra Dance
Come and start the festival in style with a fun evening of contras and squares! (G)
English Contra Dance Band (Band) Rhodri Davies (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only

Events on Saturday 27th May 2023
TimeWhatWithPrice
09:30 - 11:00Golden Chippers
Celebrating the start of the 50th Chippenham festival with golden themed dances in English style. Beautiful patterns to wonderful music. (G)
Stradivarious (Band) Victoria Yeomans (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
11:15 - 12:45Hey hey! Real reel dancing
Dances with interesting reels, some English genre and some others. (G)
Stradivarious (Band) Frances Richardson (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
13:00 - 13:40Callers' Round
An opportunity for callers to meet up and exchange notes, moderated by Louise Siddons.
Louise Siddons (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
14:00 - 15:30Timing is Everything
"A good dancer is never late, nor are they early. They arrive precisely when they mean to." Practice timing contra figures and fit them perfectly. (P)
English Contra Dance Band (Band) Bob Morgan_ (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
15:45 - 17:15Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey
Contras that mess with timing - longer, shorter or unusual time signatures. Challenge your instincts and practice getting your timing right. (P)
English Contra Dance Band (Band) Bob Morgan_ (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
17:30 - 19:00Teatime with NYFTE
A special performance of English traditional song, music and dance from the talented group of young people that is NYFTE!
NYFTE  (National Youth Folk Troupe of England) (Youth)Donation
19:30 - 22:30Playford Ball
Wonderful interpretations of dances from Playford & other 18th cent. publishers plus some recent dances in Playford style. Interval spot around 9pm. (G)
19:30 - 22:30 Shropshire Bedlams  (Dance Spot) Martha Rhoden's Tuppenny Dish (Dance Spot)Weekend or Day tickets Only
Albireo (Band) David & Kathryn Wright (Caller)

Events on Sunday 28th May 2023
TimeWhatWithPrice
09:30 - 11:00A Tribute to Philippe Callens
This session will look at a sample of Philippe’s compositions and interpretations. Dances will be in a range of rhythms, speeds and challenge. (G)
Dave Yeomans, Matt Norman & Marni Rachmiel (Band) David & Kathryn Wright (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
11:15 - 12:45Shaw Thing
English dances from the early 1700s interpreted by modern Dancing Master, Andrew Shaw. (G)
Dave Yeomans, Matt Norman & Marni Rachmiel (Band) Victoria Yeomans (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
12:50 - 13:30Callers' Round
An opportunity for callers to meet up and exchange notes, moderated by Mark Elvins.
 Weekend or Day tickets Only
14:00 - 15:30Favourite Dances with the Festival Band
Come and dance to the music of the Festival Band as they play for a mixed programme of dances comprising a selection of well known favourites. (G)
Joshua and Benjamin Rowe, Ali Messer & David Ledsam (Band) David & Kathryn Wright (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
15:45 - 17:30Callers' Showcase
Come and dance to the calls of a preselected group of callers, new to calling at Chippenham and mentored by Bob. Ceilidh, contra and ECD. (P, G & A)
Joshua and Benjamin Rowe, Ali Messer & David Ledsam (Band) Bob Morgan_ (MC)Weekend or Day tickets Only
20:00 - 23:00Contra Dance
An evening of entertaining contra dance for experienced and new dancers alike. Interval spot around 9pm. (P)
Hammersmith (Dance Spot) Vertical Expression (Band)Weekend or Day tickets Only
Louise Siddons (Caller)

Events on Monday 29th May 2023
TimeWhatWithPrice
09:30 - 11:00Everything is Timing
Some dances benefit from perfect timing, some are a bit more fluid. Explore some of these dances and how we can make them as satisfying as we can. (P)
WillPower (Band) Bob Morgan_ (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
11:15 - 12:45Fun with Formations
Advanced contra workshop exploring the range of progressions and formations in some of the more mind bending contras. (P)
Rhianwen Davies (Caller) WillPower (Band)Weekend or Day tickets Only
14:00 - 15:30Royalty
It's 3 weeks since the coronation so let’s dance for the King and members of the royal family. How many can we fit; will your favourite feature? (G)
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer (Band) Victoria Yeomans (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
15:45 - 17:15Sum Dances
This session will explore the work of the choreographer Gary Roodman and include a range of dances with varying degrees of style and challenge. (G)
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer (Band) David & Kathryn Wright (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only
19:30 - 22:30Farewell Dance
A final fling for the festival. Several old favourites with nothing to fry your brains. We will dance across the centuries and the genres. (G)
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer (Band) Victoria Yeomans (Caller)Weekend or Day tickets Only