Our band plays two sorts of speed: session speed; dancing speed - and the same tunes maybe played at either or one of these speeds, depending on the situation.

Generally speaking, when playing for dancing, the speeds may be slower, but all depends on the caller, who will assess the capability of the dancers - many of them perhaps new to the dancing - and set the speed appropriately. We tend to play most things faster - but not excessively - at sessions, not forgetting that some of the people at our sessions are relative learners and sometimes prefer a steady tempo (as opposed to breakneck!)

There are occasionally tunes which our caller makes us play at a pretty fierce pace because they suit the dances he's chosen, and he wants some action from the dancers. One set is "Staten Island/Morpeth Rant", which we play at a fair pace in the session - and almost breakneck for his particular dance! The other is "Over The Hills And Far Away", which rattles along at a ridiculous rate. We all stand back and watch the dancers bouncing around...