Dances
Scotland has a strong tradition of song, poetry, and dance, and Glasgow 2024 will fully embrace this. We will run a number of dance events during the convention, so make sure to bring your dancing shoes! The schedule is as follows:
- Thursday 9 p.m.: The Science Ceilidh
- Friday 4 p.m.: The Timey-Wimey Masked Ball
- Friday 10 p.m.: The Dance Party at the End of the Universe
- Saturday 10 p.m.: DJ Scapegoat’s Wild Wasteland
- Sunday 10.30 p.m.: Post-Hugo Blues Dance
- Monday 6 p.m: Ceilidh with The Jiggers
Read on for all the details!
The Science Ceilidh
Thursday 8 August, 9 p.m. till late, Argyll Ballroom 1&2, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Join us for a convention opening night of Scottish culture with a ceilidh dance with added Science!
We’re delighted to be joined by the Science Ceilidh Band who have performed at Worldcon before. They will take time at the start to teach you the right moves as well. We also hope to see many Landing Zone tartans swirling!
The Timey-Wimey Masked Ball
Friday 9 August, 4 p.m. – 6.30 p.m., Inspiration Room, Village Hotel
Come join us for a Timey-Wimey voyage through dances from fantasy and science fiction film, television, and literature!
Fancy a Hunger Games District 12 wedding dance… or maybe a Targaryen one from House of the Dragon? Wonderland’s Lobster Quadrille or a Firefly Shindig? Travelling to Bridgerton like Ruby Sunday and the Doctor or to the 25th century like Buck Rogers? We’ll dance and laugh our way through them all!
No experience is needed – all dances will be taught by the Ball MC Susan de Guardiola. Costumes, creative dress from anywhere in space and time, and masks (the masquerade kind, not the Covid kind) are encouraged, but if you don’t have fancy dress, come as you are. Personal disco balls and lobsters will be supplied!
The Dance Party at the End of the Universe
Friday 9 August, 10 p.m. till late, Argyll Ballroom 1&2, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Bring your bodies and hit the dance floor as DJ (and Hugo nominee!) John Scalzi spins absolutely all the biggest dance tunes from every era of pop music. From the Bee Gees and Depeche Mode to Beyoncé and Chappell Roan, you’ll dance til you drop… and then you’ll dance some more!
DJ Scapegoat’s Wild Wasteland
Saturday 10 August, 10 p.m. till late, Argyll Ballroom 1&2, Crowne Plaza Hotel
DJ Scapegoat (Steve Fletcher) will be your DJ this evening, and the theme will be ‘Wild Wasteland’ with a post-apocalyptic aesthetic!
Steve says: I tend to play pretty open format; I can cover anything from 60s to today, and will spin whatever the crowd on the night vibes to… Anything from swing to Kpop, metal to dance! I always try to incorporate requests into my sets, so I’ll start with some chilled stuff then start upping the energy as folk start wanting to dance!
Post-Hugo Blues Dance
Sunday 11 August, 10:30 p.m. till late, Argyll Ballroom 1&2, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Whether or not you’ve got the blues after the Hugo results, come enjoy listening and dancing to some late-night blues!
Blues music and dance are part of African-American culture, evolving from African rhythms and movement styles. Some quick instruction will be offered by the dance DJ Susan de Guardiola to get you started, but creativity and self-expression, solo or with a partner, are encouraged!
Ceilidh with The Jiggers
Monday 12 August, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Argyll Ballroom 1&2, Crowne Plaza Hotel
We’ll close out the convention in style with the help of The Jiggers Ceilidh band! Come along and have fun, then enjoy the Dead Dog party which starts immediately afterwards.
Notes on Ceilidhs
/ˈkālē/
Originally the word Ceilidh (KAY-lee) descended from the Gaelic word for ‘gathering’ or ‘party’. However, these days when people think of a Ceilidh, they think of a fun-filled night of wild dancing, good music and great company. Ceilidh dancing is truly glorious when done right, fuelled by a sense of community and often a few pints. Here at Glasgow 2024, we want to honor this tradition and hold our own Ceilidh! Don’t worry if you’re unsure about how to participate, there will be instructions for all. For our American friends, think of a Ceilidh like a Square Dance.