By Robyn Surcombe, 08 May 2026
VUWTC's first (!?) ceilidh took place on the 8th May 2026! This idea was first conjured up by myself and Micah on the slopes of Ruapehu during the committee trip. I was thinking back on how much fun I've had ceilidh dancing in Edinburgh over the last couple of years, and we agreed that the tramping club would lap up a night of high-energy social dancing. Thus, dreams became action. A couple of months on, 170 people assembled in the Hunter Lounge and danced the night away in the very musical and capable hands of VicFolk!
We were joined by members from Geology Society and the Tararua Tramping Club, and we reached out to other tramping clubs and communities besides. If another ceilidh happens in the future, it would be pretty cool to see even more inter-club collaboration, particularly within the Wellington tramping community. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the natures of tramping and ceilidh-ing seem to have something in common. Think on it, guys... could be neat!
It turned out to be a pretty mixed crowd, with a few regular ceilidh-goers, and many who hadn't heard of ceilidh dancing until a couple of weeks ago. Nonetheless, the vibes were electric and there was some quality dancing going on! Max commented on how long it had been since he had seen that many smiling faces in one room. Pizza was enjoyed in the break, and the photobooth was under constant use. I think everyone had a great time, and it will without a doubt be a highlight memory for me.