It was such a rollicking success last year that the Waikino Community Hall committee are putting on another summer dance this Saturday.

The Waikino Summer Ceilidh is guaranteed to get everyone up on their feet and dancing like experts when the dance kicks off at the Waikino Victoria Hall on State Highway 2 at 7pm.

Put on your dancing shoes and support the Waikino Victoria Hall by getting down to the Waikino Summer Ceilidh this Saturday, from 7pm. Photo: Google maps

Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a traditional Gaelic social gathering which normally involves Gaelic folk music and dancing.

A Ceilidh dance is explained beforehand by a caller, whose role is to call out the steps of the dance. This means both novices and experts alike can trip the light fantastic and have a swell time doing so.

This Saturday's Waikino Ceilidh will feature the toe-tapping talents of The Hairy Coo Ceilidh Band from Hamilton, supported by local musicians, while dances will be called by Noel Armstrong.

Organiser Brian Habberfield says the purpose of tomorrow's dance is three-fold.

'This is is a multipurpose event; it's a way to utilise the hall, raise some money for its maintenance costs, all the while having some fun in the village.”

The event follows on from last year's inaugural summer Ceilidh which saw about 90 people gather in the hall for a night of dancing.

Brian says this year's event is attracting a lot of enthusiasm from the Waikino Village, even from the younger people who have since learned about the fun to be had.

And because all the moves are explained and called out, it matters not if you're a Scottish Fred Astaire or a Two Left Feet Freddy.

'It makes it very accessible in terms of having fun, and at one point last year there was nobody in the hall sitting down, everybody was up and dancing which was a great result.

'The other thing was, when everyone was dancing, the only people who were not smiling were the ones who were laughing.”

If you head down to the Waikino Victoria Hall tomorrow for the dance and get bitten by the Ceilidh bug then fear not because Brain says he's already organising the dance for the next two years.

Letting it slip, he's hoping Te Pahu's much loved Big Muffin Serious Band in a Ceilidh incarnation will be making an appearance next year.

So tomorrow, if you fancy a bit of dancing get down to Waikino for a great night of entertainment, and help the village preserve its community hall and history.

'A lot of small communities have been losing their community halls over the last few years and we're not looking to use ours.

'So come on down, we guarantee you a wonderful night of fun filled with dancing and laughing.”

The Second Waikino Summer Ceilidh takes place at the Waikino Victoria Hall, 8561 State Highway 2, Waikino, on Saturday, January 17, from 7pm.

Entry costs $20 and the event is BYO. Nibbles and teas will also be provided.

To book tickets call Brain Habberfield on 0210-551-740 or email [email protected]