12pm Wed | 6:30pm Tue | Irish Set Dance

Overview

Tuesdays: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Wednesdays: 12:00 – 2:00 pm

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This term, we will spend a week or two on each of the dancing regions listed below. There are sets from all over Ireland, and today, sets are being revived and composed not only in Ireland but around the world.

If you’d like to see a list of many of these sets organized by county, click here to view the document. This is one of my recent projects and is still a work in progress. It’s fascinating to see all the sets in one place, along with their origins and composers. Every time I look at them, I notice new patterns and gain fresh insights. If you spot anything interesting, please share! As a collective community, we can uncover details that help us all learn and appreciate these wonderful dances and traditions.

All registered students are welcome to attend both the daytime and evening classes at no additional cost. Each class will cover different sets, so feel free to join both— the more, the merrier!

How deeply you dive into the material is up to you. Think of this like a yoga class or learning a musical instrument. We will start with the foundational steps, and I will introduce variations through partner work, turns, and footwork. You can incorporate these variations when you feel ready, but they are not required to enjoy the dance. The most important thing is to dance fluidly with your partner and your set.

This class accommodates all levels, allowing you to pick and choose what works best for you. Footwork ornamentation or “battering” will take extra practice outside of class, especially if you’re learning it for the first time. Even experienced dancers need to “woodshed” steps on their own before they can confidently integrate them into a dance. Focus on what you enjoy and what aligns with your current skill level!

Helpful Links & Info

• All the Set dances – instructions, videos, steps for each set.
• Sets by county – organized by where the dances are from.
• Glossary of Terms – terms for set dancing.
• Dance Minder – Dance Minder is a site with set dance instructions, run by Michael Harrison.
• Set Dancing Teacher – Set Dancing Teacher – I really like how the instructions are laid out on this page; they’re clear and easy to follow. The instructions are still very helpful, but when using this site to teach or find the bar lengths for dances, I recommend double-checking the numbers using Pat Murphy’s book or DanceMinder, as the numbers aren’t always accurate on this site.
• Mabula.net – Mabula is an amazing site! It lists all set dancing publications and musical recordings, including what we used to call “scrap sets.”
• Spotify – I’ve curated music playlists for practicing and dancing. This playlists are by tune type as well as by sets.
• YouTube – I’ve created music and dance playlists for many of the set dances.

History & Cultural Background

Dance Families

Document of sets listed by families

Originally, set dances were brought to England, Scotland, and Ireland from France. The earliest sets were the First Set of Quadrilles, Second Set of Quadrilles, and Third Set of Quadrilles. These dances were taught in the grand houses as well as in communities by the dancing masters of the time. Over the years, each region adapted these French dances to fit their own traditional music and style, giving us the set dances we know today.

I’m currently working on a project to categorize these dances into their original “families” or roots. This approach has helped me recognize and remember dances based on their shared characteristics.

Dance Families:

• 3rd Set of Quadrilles – Caledonian Sets
• 1st Set of Quadrilles – Plain Sets
• 2nd Set of Quadrilles – Lancer Sets

Ireland’s Counties

Sets by Counties – This document lists most set dances by county. Below, you’ll find a map of each county to help you visualize where these dances originate. I never fully understood the regional roots of these dances until I visited Ireland—hopefully, this resource will help you grasp it faster than I did! Use it as a reference to explore where each set comes from and how different regions have shaped them.

In addition to counties, you’ll also encounter cultural regions of dancing. One notable example is Connemara, referring to sets from western Galway. Some revived dances from Westmeath, particularly Ráth Chairn, also have Connemara roots, as people from Connemara settled in this area. The Aran Islands are often grouped within this style as well. You may also come across the Sliabh Luachra set, named after the region where Cork, Kerry, and Limerick meet. As you dive deeper, you’ll notice that many sets were danced across county borders, blending regional styles.

Today, many new dances are being composed—some by dancers from a particular county, others in honor of a county’s dance traditions. I’ve included these in both the county lists and a separate composed dances section for reference. Additionally, some revived dances outside Ireland are tied to specific counties, and where I have that knowledge, I’ve included them.

A major contributor to documenting and preserving set dances is Pat Murphy, who has published five well-known books on set dancing, covering both traditional and modern sets. There are also other collectors who have played an important role in preserving these dances. In Pat’s books, he notes where he learned each set or who collected it. Some of the dancers he credits include Connie Ryan, Patrick O’Dea, and Pádraig & Róisín McEneany, some of whom our own Portland, Oregon community has had the pleasure of learning from. Their influence has helped shape and spread these dances, ensuring their survival for future generations.

Other important publications come from Larry Lynch, Brooks Academy, and others. Larry Lynch’s work deserves special mention. He collected sets locally, documenting where, how, and by whom they were danced at the time. His book goes into great detail about the dances, people, and regions, and he made a significant effort to preserve the way these dances were performed before the set dancing revival. I was fortunate to learn from him at the age of 15 and had opportunities throughout my dancing years to benefit from his knowledge. He lived in the Bay Area, where dancers greatly appreciated his historical insight. His recorded versions act as a time capsule, capturing past traditions that may not always align with how the dances are performed today.

I’ve also had the privilege of working with pipers deeply immersed in traditional playing, preserving versions of tunes from Seamus Ennis and Willie Clancy that are rarely heard today—except among dedicated enthusiasts. I encourage you to think of Larry’s versions in the same way: historical gems that capture a moment in time. While it’s essential to preserve these traditions, I encourage teachers and dancers to also recognize the evolving nature of set dancing.

Most importantly, read the room when dancing outside your usual community. Each place may have its own variations, so go with the flow and dance what the local dancers are dancing. Adaptability is key to keeping the tradition alive while respecting its roots.

Footwork

Set Dance Footwork – a page with footwork for each tune type. Also each dance page has footwork videos on it.

In set dancing, you use 3’s and advance & retire steps, with slight variations depending on the tune type—Reels, Jigs, Slides, Polkas, or Hornpipes.

A key feature of set dancing is battering, a percussive footwork style that adds rhythm and energy while dancing with your partner and within the set. However, the foundation of set dancing lies in smooth, flowing steps. Battering should enhance the dance, not overpower it. It’s typically used to highlight specific movements rather than throughout the entire set.

If you’d like to explore battering further, there are many lessons available on this site.

You can also use the search feature on this site to explore more classes and videos. Click HERE. If you’re interested in learning more about battering, there are plenty of lessons available!

• Set Dance Footwork – A page with the steps organized by tune type and cultural region.
• Mick Mulkerrin’s Steps – Mick, one of my teachers, is both a set dancer and a sean-nós dancer. On this page, you’ll find videos of him dancing, along with a playlist of the steps he taught me. Several of these include Clare Battering steps as well as Clare advance & retire steps.
• Willie Keane – I never had the chance to meet Willie, but my dad saw him dance in Ireland in the ’90s. Mick taught me one of Willie’s steps, and it’s fantastic for set dancing, especially for advancing and retiring. There’s also a great documentary about Willie, which you can find—along with the step Mick taught me—on Willie’s page.

Set Dances

On this tab you will find Wednesday/Tuesday class material. Each dance has its own page with instructions, videos, footwork and more.

Wednesday	Tuesday
Week 1: Armagh Lancers Set Week 2: Armagh Lancers Set & Connemara Set Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8:	Week 1: Armagh Lancers Set Week 2: Armagh Lancers Set Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: