Anyone who can walk can take part, no previous experience is needed, and a Ceilidh or Barn Dance is extremely effective with diverse groups of mixed ages and interests. F.A.Q. Answers l've never been to a Barn Dance. The easiest way to describe an English Barn Dance to people who have never been to one is to say that it resembles the American Square Dancing you may have seen on television.
Dances mostly involve couples, singly or in groups of two, three, four, or more.
Although a balance of male and female participants is useful, it is not neccessary because the dancing is not 'close contact'. Most of the dances will be English, although some bands will include a few dances from other countries. Barn Dancing is active, but not too strenuous. In practise there is now no significant difference. It was intended to indicate a new style of dance evening with music which was more lively and energetic, played by bands who integrated diverse musical influences and were happy to use any musical instrument which served their purpose.