Classes, Current Classes, Irish Sean-nós Dance

2026 March | Sean-nós Dance | No Music March

maldonm

overview

Week by Week

MondaysWednesdays
Week 124
Metronome work 80 bpmStart of routine
Week 2911
Motif Based Routine
70-80 bpm		Continue to build Motif Based Routine
Week 31618
Drill All steps starting with end
Drill Together
Metronome Time
Add to routine
Week 42325
Bring a track or tune
On our own we will work on dancing to this tune		Keep working on your tune(s)
Week 530

week 1

Week 1

Week 124
Clare Batter Step
Heel & Toe (Rosin)
“Shit Step”
“Baby Hornpipe”
Side Step (Katrina)		Clare Battering #1
Clare Batter #2
Clare Batter #1 #3
Mick 1st Half

Monday

Wednesday

week 2

Week 2

Week 2 911
70-80 bpm
Motif – Clare Battering #1
Clare Batter #2
Motif – Clare Battering #1
Clare Batter #1 #3
Motif – Clare Battering #1
Mick 1st Half
Motif – Clare Battering #1
Hare’s Paw 1st Half
Motif – Clare Battering #1		80 bpm – revamp and adjust routine
A1 Clare #1
B1 Mick #1
A2 Clare #1 (pick up beat)
B2 Mick #1 (1 drum/step)
A3 Clare #1/#2
B3 Mick #1 (3 drums/step)
A4 Clare #1/#2 (pick up beat)
B4 Mick #1 (Hare’s paw)
A5 Clare #1/#3
B5 Mick #1 (Hare’s paw drum)
A6 Clare#1/#3 (pick up beat)
B6 Mick #1 (shuffle backs)

Monday

Wednesday

Wednesday Class Notes

In Wednesday’s class we continued refining the routine, simplifying it to one tune and focusing on just two steps:

  • Clare Battering Step
  • Mick’s Advance & Retire

We also started bringing in ornamentation ideas such as pauses, drums, triplets, slides, and drags.

Homework

Spend some time practicing with a metronome. I suggest working one step at a time to notice where you might be speeding up or slowing down. Aim to perfect each step on its own before putting them back into the routine.

If you find your timing slipping when you include all the variations, try practicing one A-part and B-part variation at a time until each feels solid. Then begin adding them together.

Once you’re happy with your timing, try bumping the tempo up by about 1-5 BPM. Aiming to be at 85 bpm by Monday.

week 3

Week 3

Week 31618
12. B6 Mick #1 (shuffle backs)
11. A6 Clare#1/#3 (pick up beat)
10. B5 Mick #1 (Hare’s paw drum)
9. A5 Clare #1/#3
8. B4 Mick #1 (Hare’s paw)
7. A4 Clare #1/#2 (pick up beat)
6. B3 Mick #1 (3 drums/step)
5. A3 Clare #1/#2
4. B2 Mick #1 (1 drum/step)
3. A2 Clare #1 (pick up beat)
2. B1 Mick #1
1. A1 Clare #1		1. A1 Clare #1
2. B1 Mick #1
3. A2 Clare #1 (pick up beat)
4. B2 Mick #1 (1 drum/step)
5. A3 Clare #1/#2
6. B3 Mick #1 (3 drums/step)
7. A4 Clare #1/#2 (pick up beat)
8. B4 Mick #1 (Hare’s paw)
9. A5 Clare #1/#3
10. B5 Mick #1 (Hare’s paw drum)
11. A6 Clare#1/#3 (pick up beat)
12. B6 Mick #1 (shuffle backs)

Monday

Wednesday

Drill all steps starting with the end and adding on each step.

  • Woodshed each section
    • Metronome
  • Whole step
    • Metronmome
  • Routine
    • Metronome
  • Homework – Keep working on this on your own. We will keep it lit by dancing it straight though. You will have to do the fine tuning and memorizing on your own. Or memorize it on the fly.
  • Next Week – Bring a tune or a track that you like and create steps to it. Work on dancing it without the tune to see if you can hear the tune in the steps. Still no music March but using music to inspire your steps.

week 4

Week 4

Next Week – Bring a tune or a track that you like and create steps to it. Work on dancing it without the tune to see if you can hear the tune in the steps. Still no music March, but using music to inspire your steps. Practice listing and creating steps and then turning it off and keeping the rythm, pulse and melody in your feet and head.

Week 42325
Bring a tune
Dance to:
1. The Tune
2. Without the tune
3. With a Metronome		Continue with your tune
Dance to:
1. The Tune
2. Without the tune
3. With a Metronome

Monday

Wednesday

playlist

routines

Maldon’s Accapella Routine

  • A – Clare #1 – 4x
  • A – Clare #2 4x
  • B – Clare #1/#3 2x
  • B – Mick (1st half) 4x
  • A – Mick Clare off beat 4x
  • A –
  • B –
  • B –

Published by maldonm