Classes, Current Classes, In-Person, Irish Sean-nós Dance

Fri | 6:30pm | 2026 Winter | Irish Set Dance

overview

  • This class is held at PCC SouthEast campus
  • Dance Shoes
    • There’s no official shoe for set dancing. The most important thing is a smooth, non-grippy sole that allows you to glide across the floor.
    • Good options include:
      • A tap shoe without the tap
      • Smooth-soled dress shoes
      • Dance sneakers
    • Regular sneakers aren’t recommended, as they tend to grip the floor and make turning and traveling harder.
  • Local option: The Leotard on MLK carries several shoes that work well for set dancing. Let them know you’re taking a dance class and you’ll receive 10% off.
  • Here’s an article about shoes – some ideas and recommendations.

Week by Week

SetStepsBattering
Week 1 – Jan 9Clare Plain Set
Figures 1 & 2
Videos on week 1 tab
3’s
Advance & Retire Step
Videos on week 1 tab
Heel drop in the 3’s and Advance & Retire steps
Videos on week 1 tab
Week 2 – Jan 16
No class at PCC campus!
You are invited to attend the 3rd Friday Dance at Waverly, 3300 SE Woodword St.
Portland, OR
Free to all PCC Irish Set Dance Students
Week 3 – Jan 23Clare Plain Set
Figures 2,3,4
3’s
Advance & Retire Step
Week 4 – Jan 30Corballa Set3’sJig step
Week 5 – Feb 6Cashel Set3Slide (Jig step)
Week 6 – Feb 13Corballa Set3Jig step (123,123,123)
Step heel step
Week 7 – Feb 20
No class at PCC campus!
Kilfenora
Connemara
Clare Lancers
Merchant
Armagh Lancers
You are invited to attend the 3rd Friday Montlhy Céilí
Music: Erik Killops
Waverly, 3300 SE Woodword St.
Portland, OR
Free to all PCC Irish Set Dance Students
Week 8 – Feb 27Kilfenora
Connemara
Clare Lancers
Merchant
Armagh Lancers
3’s
Week 9 – March 6
Week 10 – March 13

playlist

On this Tab

  • Steps for Set Dancing Playlist: Smooth 3’s practice videos
  • Clare Battering Playlist: you are welcome to go down the rabbit hole here. This playlist had many videos of Clare Battering steps. The battering is an optional component of set dancing. If you like working on footwork and like the percussive elements of set dancing this is a good playlist to start working on your own. I will teach some battering steps in class, but they do take time outside of class to work on them and get them up to speed. This is a part of set dancing that I ablsoutly love and there are other dancers who prefer the smooth options. It’s completly up to you what you work on.

Clare Plain

Week 1 – Clare Plain Set

In the first class we learned the frist two figures of the Clare Plain Set from County Clare, Ireland.

What we covered in class:

  • Steps: 3’s (traveling step) and Advance & Retire
  • Partner: Frame (waltz hold), hand holds
  • Clare Plain Set
    • Figure 1: Square
    • Figure 2: Under the Wing

Step: 3’s


Step: Advance & Reitre (Follow) starting on right foot


Step: Advance & Reitre (Lead) starting on left foot


Frame


Clare Plain Set – First Figure


Clare Plain Set – Second Figure

Clare Plain Set – Third Figure


Clare Plain Set – Fourth Figure


Clare Plain Set – Fifth Figure

Jan Ceili

Week 2 – 3rd Friday Céilí

3rd Friday Céilí Dance List

Kilfenora Plain

  1. Square Reels 96 bars
  2. Under the Wing Jigs 112 bars
  3. Lineup Reels 136 bars
  4. Wheelbarrow Reels 240 bars
  5. Sevens Jigs 112 bars
  6. Mixer Hornpipes 160 bars

Ballyvourney slides (4 slides 4x each)

Lancers

  1. Square Reels 160 bars
  2. 4 turns Reels 192 bars
  3. Big Christmas Reels 144 bars
  4. Little Christmas Reels 192 bars
  5. Chain & Line up Reels 192 bars

Connemara

  1. Follows Chain Reels 160 bars
  2. Back to Back Reels 192 bars
  3. Christmas Reels 184 bars
  4. Maggie in the Woods Polka 96 bars

North Kerry

  1. Star Polkas 152 bars
  2. Show the Follow Polkas 152 bars
  3. Slide & Change Slides or Jigs 184 bars
  4. Follows Star Polkas   88 bars
  5. Follows move on Hornpipe 128 bars

Corballa

Week 4 – Corballa Set



Cashel

Week 5 – Cashel Set






Whole Dance

Céilí Feb

Week 2 – 3rd Friday Céilí

3rd Friday Céilí Dance List

Kilfenora Plain

  1. Square Reels 96 bars
  2. Under the Wing Jigs 112 bars
  3. Lineup Reels 136 bars
  4. Wheelbarrow Reels 240 bars
  5. Sevens Jigs 112 bars
  6. Mixer Hornpipes 160 bars

Connemara

  1. Follows Chain Reels 160 bars
  2. Back to Back Reels 192 bars
  3. Christmas Reels 184 bars
  4. Maggie in the Woods Polka 96 bars

Lancers

  1. Square Reels 160 bars
  2. 4 turns Reels 192 bars
  3. Big Christmas Reels 144 bars
  4. Little Christmas Reels 192 bars
  5. Chain & Line up Reels 192 bars

Merchant

  • 1 Corners Advance & Cross
  • 4 four turns, Sevens & half house

Armagh Lancers

  1. Jig Square & Swing corner 136
  2. Jig Square & Line up 136
  3. Jig Big/Little Christmas 136
  4. Jig Follows Star 136
  5. Jig Chain & Line up 168