Welcome to the website for the Grand Union Dance Weekend, formerly known as the Southam Gathering.

The Grand Union Dance Weekend is 3 full days of dancing in Warwickshire, UK for around 150 experienced and enthusiastic folk dancers.  It takes place Friday to Monday inclusive on the August bank holiday each year (finishing on the last Monday in August).  In 2026 it will be Friday 28^th to Monday 31^st August.

After 30 years in venues (mostly) in Southam the weekend is moving to Barford, Warwickshire for 2026.  This is a village just south of Warwick, only a few miles from Southam.  The village is a lovely place with a well-stocked shop, a pub with restaurant and a park amongst its amenities.  We will be using the Youth & Community Centre (BYCC), the Memorial Hall and the Primary School, which are in easy walking distance of each other past the park and allotments.

You can expect high quality bands and callers to tempt you to sessions across the 3 venues all weekend.  Daytime workshops will focus on more challenging repertoire and dancing better.  The aim is to dance well with minimal or no calling so you can dance to the music.  The evenings will feature a more relaxed programme.  The programme will include all genres, albeit with more English than other styles to suit our dancers’ preferences.

The Southam Gathering has been an invitation only event.  Practically speaking an invitation has been extended to anyone who has requested one for a number of years but the perception of exclusivity has lingered.  The Grand Union Dance Weekend is no longer invitation only.  If you are or know of dancers who are confident of most dance moves, willing to be challenged during workshops (and to dance all weekend!), please ask to be added to the mailing list by emailing us at contact@granduniondance.org.  Being on the mailing list ensures you will get all the information that is sent out.