Sip tea, come dancing! Tea dance events coming to libraries

Suffolk Libraries has teamed up with Britten Pears Arts and DanceEast to help people enjoy fabulous Tea Dance events at libraries in December.

Several libraries will be holding special festive afternoon tea events, with many including a special screening of Britten Pears’ Christmas Tea Dance and additional activities to get involved with. There will of course be tea on offer – and cake!

The events are relaxed and are designed to be dementia-friendly. They aim to provide a sociable and fun gathering for older people, but everyone is welcome to join in.

The Tea Dance itself is a forty-five-minute film which includes a seven-piece big band, a presenter and professional dancers. It’s sure to get everyone’s feet tapping and there will be an opportunity for people to learn some dance moves and sing along too.

Suffolk Libraries is the independent charity which runs the county’s library service. It offers regular Top Time social sessions for older people in libraries with some of the afternoon tea events taking place during these sessions.

Melissa Matthews, Suffolk Libraries Creative Programmes Manager, said:

“Last year we helped people to access the tea dance event online so it’s fantastic to be able to bring people together and hold these events in libraries this year. Suffolk Libraries is always looking to organise and host events that provide social interaction and improve people’s wellbeing."

"We’re delighted to be working with Britten Pears Arts and DanceEast on this project and hope to see plenty of people in libraries enjoying tea, cake, music and hopefully dancing!”

The full list of events can be found on the Tea Dance page on our website, and you can find out more on the Britten Pears website.

The following events all involve a screening of the Tea Dance film:

• Saturday 4 December from 1PM to 3PM – Afternoon Tea at Great Cornard Library

• Wednesday 8 December from 11AM to 1PM – Afternoon Tea at Rushmere Suffolk Libraries Local

• Monday 13 December from 2PM to 4PM – Afternoon Tea at Shotley Suffolk Libraries Local

• Tuesday 14 December from 10AM to 12PM - Afternoon Tea at Chantry Library

• Tuesday 14 December from 2PM to 4PM - Afternoon Tea at Gainsborough Library

• Tuesday 14 December from 2PM to 4PM - Afternoon Tea at Ipswich County Library

• Tuesday 14 December from 2PM to 4PM - Afternoon Tea at Lowestoft Library

• Tuesday 14 December from 2PM to 4PM - Afternoon Tea at Sudbury Library

On Tuesday 14 December from 1.30PM to 3.30PM, Bungay Community Library will also be hosting an event with tea, cake and nostalgic music but will not be screening the film.