The Old Dance School

The Old Dance School is a fluidly versatile Birmingham based 7-piece group bringing youthful, vital energy to traditional music. The band features brilliant fiddlers Helen Lancaster and Samantha Norman, who have a long history of performing together; A Jazz trained rhythm section of cajon wizard Tom Chapman, multi-talented Aaron Diaz laying down the bass, and the inventive Robin Beatty on guitar, and the lovely Laura Carter and Sarah Jeffrey on whistles and recorders.

The band’s electrifying original compositions compliment their ever growing repertoire of fresh, energy-infused arrangements of traditional tunes from Ireland, England, Scotland, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe.
Now over two years in the making, The Old Dance School has gone from strength to strength, with appearances at arts centres and theatres across the country, with the Joe Broughton Folk Ensemble, music festivals, private ceilidhs and folk clubs. A self- produced live basement EP under their belts, the ODS have recently completed their debut full-length studio album, produced by Joe Broughton and are looking forward to a busy summer - particularly enjoying featured slots on The Folk Ensemble's biggest UK tour to date, opening Birmingham's English Originals Festival and playing both the main stage and headlining the Lunar Stage at The Moseley Folk Festival.
All photography by John Beatty
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