The Feet First For Families project aims to introduce children, young people and families across Devon to folk dance in all its forms, such as social dance, step dancing and morris dancing.

Wren Music will be offering free folk dance sessions to schools and youth clubs, all led by experienced community dance leaders and professional folk musicians.

These will be followed by Saturday Family Dance Days, where young people can bring along family members and discover what fun you can have with dancing, whatever your age. Participants can try out some smart dance steps, watch displays by local folk dancers, and get up on their feet at a ceilidh - that's a another name for a folk dance event, and is pronounced kay-lee. There will be live music, and there will be chances for people taking part to join in with that too if they play an instrument.

The first Family Dance Day will be held on Saturday 21st November at St Teresa's Hall, Vicarage Road, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8TY, from 10.30am - 3.30pm. All young people and their families are invited to come along and have a great time. The organisers suggest you bring packed lunch and drinks.

Feet First Family Dance Days are only £10 per family of up to two adults and three children, or one adult and up to four children. Please note that all adults will need to be accompanied by a young person. Children under eight years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Feet First project is directed by David Faulkner, who is Senior Community Musician with Wren Music and a multiple-award winning folk musician with an international reputation.
"Wherever you go in Europe, it seems that everyone knows their local dances, and people of all ages can often be seen enjoying dancing together. Thanks to support from the National Lottery through Sport England, we hope to give young people and their families the chance to learn some of our own westcountry dances. We aim to introduce them to local opportunites to join in dancing, and will be running a prize draw for people who take part in further dancing to win a extra Wren Music workshop for their school or youth club."

The Family Dance Day will be followed by an evening ceilidh from 8.00 to 11.00pm in St Teresa's Hall, with live music from Rough Music, the 30-piece East Devon Folk Orchestra. People of all ages are welcome to this event, with or without children. Single tickets are £6, with a concessionary rate of £4.50

Over the coming months, the Feet First For Families project will continue with further schools and youth club workshops and Family Dance Days. Family Dance Days confirmed so far are:

• 6th February in Ivybridge
• 27 February in Barnstaple
• 20th March in Ashburton
• 8th May in Tiverton
• 22nd May in Okehampton