Love the Blues—but where are all the men?

We’re launching Rooted in Blues: Stories, Rhythm & Belonging, a new programme inviting men who love Blues music to help us explore why fewer are taking up social dance and what might encourage them to give it a go.

Starting 9 November, join fellow Blues lovers for great stories, hands-on music and good craic, and help us get to the heart of what would bring more men onto the dance floor.

Why men, music and social dancing?

At Our Social Space, we bring people together through social dance, film and community activities. Our work creates regular opportunities to connect, enjoy shared interests and build friendships, supporting physical, mental and social wellbeing.

But access to these opportunities, and participation in them, is not evenly shared. Over the past 15 months, almost 100 people have signed up for our Blues social dance classes, but only around a quarter were men.

Our experience reflects a wider difference in dance participation. Sport Ireland’s Irish Sports Monitor 2024 found that 1% of men and 6% of women reported dancing in the previous week. In Scotland, the 2023 Scottish Household Survey found that 5% of men and 13% of women had participated in dance in the previous year.

These surveys cover different populations and time periods, but both show a gap between men’s and women’s participation.

Research also points to the potential benefits of taking part. A 2018 review of 28 studies involving 1,276 participants found that structured dance was generally as effective as other structured exercise for improving physical health. A separate 2020 review highlighted dance’s role in supporting social engagement, community building and wellbeing, while noting that men were underrepresented in the research.

This gives us a reason to look more closely at who is taking part, who is missing out and what might help more people experience these benefits.

Our CEO and co-founder, Carrie Montgomery, explains:

“When we head out to local Blues gigs with our dance community, we meet plenty of men who share our love of the music and tell us how much they enjoy watching us dance. But far fewer join us on the dance floor.

“We’re curious about that gap and want to understand it better, directly from the men themselves. What appeals to them? What puts them off? What would make it easier to get involved?”

Stories, rhythm and good craic

Rooted in Blues offers different ways into a shared love of the music.

Hear captivating stories from Lee Hedley, frontman of the Lee Hedley Blues Band, about his experiences of the Blues. Have a go at the harp, or Blues harmonica, with the super-talented Gareth Hughes, frontman of the Gareth Hughes Blues Band. Explore the history and experience the passion of Blues dancing with Carrie Montgomery and Declan Allison from Blues Belfast.

Across 12 sessions, we’ll enjoy music, stories and dancing, with plenty of time to get to know each other. Most evenings will include around an hour of storytelling or learning and an hour for tea, coffee, conversation and reflection, including sharing “What the Blues Means to Me”.

We’ll finish with a celebration featuring live Blues music and invited Blues dancers.

Your perspectives will shape what comes next

Rooted in Blues takes a community development approach: we’ll explore the questions together, drawing on participants’ own experiences, interests and ideas.

We want to understand the barriers men encounter and what could make opportunities more welcoming, relevant and accessible. Your honest views will help shape the programme as we go and inform how we encourage participation in future.

By listening to people who are less represented in our classes, we hope to better understand how we can widen access to the health and social benefits of social dancing.

When and where?

We’ll meet on Monday evenings at our East Belfast venue, starting 9 November.

The programme includes 12 sessions spread across November 2026 to March 2027, followed by a live Blues celebration. Wherever you live, you’re welcome to join us.

You’ll also be welcome at our optional Monday Movies at The Flicks Hut, our small, friendly community cinema. Featuring the Rooted in Rhythm cinema series, these evenings offer another opportunity to get together between programme sessions.

We’d love your help

We’ve had good interest in the programme and have some places remaining for men aged 18 and over.

Bring your curiosity, your love of the Blues and your opinions. Your perspective will help us better understand what might encourage more men to get involved in social dancing.

To help us hear more men’s perspectives, 75% of places are reserved for men. Women are welcome to join our waiting list, with further places dependent on additional registrations from men.

Find out more and register your interest here

Know someone who loves the Blues and has a few opinions to share? Please pass this invitation on.

Rooted in Blues is supported through the CDHN Elevate programme, funded by the Public Health Agency.