GROUP DANCING
A unique service offered by The Wandering Minstrels is that of group dancing. We provide the instruction and you provide the group. The success of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance have helped to make people eager to try their hand, or foot, at Celtic group dancing. And it's not as hard as it looks. Truth is, simple dances from the Cape Breton, Square Dance, Irish  Scottish or Contra  traditions can be taught by our callers to a crowd of beginners in just minutes.

At weddings, group dancing brings together all generations and members of both sides of the family. At parties or corporate events it is an excellent ice-breaker in a mixed crowd and promotes team-building among colleagues.

CAPE BRETON DANCING
Cape Breton dancing is one of our most popular requests for weddings. Hailing from our own Celtic island in Nova Scotia, this extremely simple dance form can be learned by all ages, from three to one hundred and three years old. It is typically accompanied by driving fiddle or bagpipe music along with piano and/or guitar. Our caller was born and bred in Cape Breton and can quickly and cheerfully instruct your guests in all of its different varieties of dance.

SQUARE DANCING
From the Ottawa Valley to Texas, square dancing has been the predominant dance form of rural North America. In fact, Cape Breton dancing is one variety of this relatively easy-to-learn form. You may have heard the colourful rhyming and rhythmic calling that often accompanies this dancing along with, of course, fiddle mandolin, piano or guitar.

CONTRA DANCING
For the very adventurous we offer this slightly more complex dance form which originates in the New England states. Contra dancing is said by some to be a mixture of English, Scottish and French country dancing. It is ideal for a crowd that is used to other types of dance and is often accompanied by fiddle and flute and chording instruments such as guitar or piano.

IRISH DANCING & SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING
These are about on par with Contra dancing in complexity but slightly more formal looking with many distinct dances. Flute, fiddle and accordion with chording instruments like guitar or piano often accompany these dance forms.

DANCE PERFORMANCE
Irish Dancers
Scottish Highland Dancers
Traditional Step Dancers (Ottawa Valley, Cape-Breton and French-Canadian)
How about your own mini Riverdance at your event? Because the influence of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance many of the companies that specialize in the dance forms above have added very progressive elements to create spectacular high-energy performances. These dancers can be accompanied by live musicians for the most authentic performance or by recorded music for a tighter budget.