Author: maldonm

Current Event, Events, Past Classes

2024 February | Old-Style Step Dance

maldonm

intro

Introducing the Online Class Old-Style Step dance! Get ready to jump, swirl, and tap your way into the intriguing world of traditional Irish dance. This weekly online Irish old-style step dance class is the perfect opportunity for dancers of all levels to indulge in their passion for dance and embark on an exciting journey like no other.

Join us on Tuesdays as we take you on a delightful adventure of learning new steps at a nice handy pace. Whether you are a seasoned dancer or a beginner, our expert instructors will guide you through every move with patience and expertise. Don’t worry about missing a session – all classes are recorded, allowing you to dance to your heart’s content at any time that suits you best.

Now, let’s dive into Wednesdays, where we woodshed the steps. No, it’s not a mystical dance move, but rather a term embraced by musicians to describe intensive practice sessions before taking their tunes out to a lively session. Here, we’ll practice and fine tune the steps you learned on Tuesday, ensuring that your feet are in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the music.

Thursdays are all about embracing the spirit of “Keep Her Lit.” As the Irish saying goes, keep the tune going, even if you make a few missteps along the way. In this session, we’ll work on the entire dance routine learned thus far, allowing you to immerse yourself in the magic of old-style step dance. So, let your inhibitions go, and let your feet do the talking!

And then comes Fridays, where the energy is high, and the excitement is palpable. Get ready to experience the Speed and Craic session, where we focus on speed, endurance, and most importantly, having an absolute blast. Craic, which loosely translates to fun and a good time, perfectly encapsulates the joyous atmosphere you’ll find here. It’s all about dancing up to tempo, pushing your limits, and reveling in the sheer exhilaration of the dance.

Our signature learning and practice style ensures that you’ll master these mesmerizing dances in just half-hour sessions. Take them live and dance alongside others, or enjoy the flexibility of dancing at your very own leisure. The choice is yours!

Old-style step dance is a treasure trove of Irish cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into an era before Riverdance and modern step dance. With its distinctive lower-to-the-ground style and intricate steps, this magnificent dance form is the perfect choice for those who crave a routine and meticulously mapped-out steps.

So, let your inner dancer leap into action, and join us for the Online Class Old-Style Step dance. Let’s kick, twirl, and shuffle our way through the captivating rhythms of Irish tradition, all while having a ton of fun. Get your dancing shoes ready, because this class is about to take you on a journey you’ll never forget.

  • Tuesdays – Learn steps
  • Wednesdays – Woodshed steps
  • Thursdays – Keep Her Lit
  • Fridays – Speed & Craic

week 1

Welcome Step Dancers!

Old-style step dance, not to be confused with sean-nós dance, is the precursor to modern Irish step dance. If you have step dance experience many steps in this style will be familiar to you. In traditional Old-style step dance each step is danced for eight bars and is danced on the right and left foot. In future courses we will learn set dances which are “crooked” with a variety of bars of music (i.e. 7 1/2 bar phrases). We begin the Old-style step dance series by learning Maggie Pickie. This is the perfect introduction to old-style step dance. Each step has a structure that is repeated four times. Maggie Pickie is considered a set dance meaning there are specific steps to a specific tune. It is not crooked as many set dances are. 

Maggie Pickie or Maggie Pickins is a traditional dance from Donegal. This particular dance is currently experiencing widespread popularity and we love it too.  I first learned Maggie Pickie from Nic Gareiss during a residency that he held at Stomptown Collective Dance Studio in Portland, Oregon. Nic got the dance from Joe McGuiggan. Through several years of performing Maggie Pickie I created a few new steps along the way to go with the traditional dance. I include one of these new steps in the lesson — the Slide step. I hope you will love to dance Maggie Pickins as much as I do. 

Want to get a jump on your learning start here with the full Maggie Pickie Course.

Damhsa áthais sona ort! (Happy dancing to you!)

Tuesday

  • Cross
  • Hop hop flick flick
  • Side step (I taught this wrong :(, the good news is what I taught is very similar to the box step which we will learn on Wednesday) Correct version is here and in the Wednesday video.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

week 2

Welcome to week 2 where we will learn the Priest in His Boots. I first learned this dance from Ben Power who learned it from James Keane while at the University of Limerick. James danced this a little differently than most dancers today. James danced the 4th step as two different steps with the 4th step being only 8 bars and then going back to the 16 bar structure. We will be learning the Tubridy because the music I have and the music you will be able to find will most likely be for a straight version of the dance. I will demonstrate both versions. If you dance this with live music you can make your choice how you want to dance the piece.

Keep Her Lit – Winter 2021

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

week 3

Week three we will work on St. Patrick’s Day.

Tuesday day 9

Wednesday day 10

Thursday day 11

Friday day 12

week 4

Old Style Step Dance – Hornpipes

Wednesday

cross, heels and drum step

Thursday

Rock & Kick and Cut

Friday

Calendar, Current Event, Events, Last Saturday Ceili

01/19/24 – Set dancing and craic? Count me in!

maldonm

Introducing the 3rd Friday Ceili, the ultimate monthly dance extravaganza that will transport you straight to the enchanting world of Irish dancing! This is not just any ordinary dance event, my friends, but a night filled with toe-tapping rhythms, infectious energy, and a whole lot of craic! 

January 19, 2023, 3rd Friday Ceili Dance

6:30pm-9:30pm

Waverly United Church of Christ, 3300 SE Woodward St, Portland, OR  

$15 

Music: Geraldine Murray | Calling: Maldon Meehan

Calling all dance enthusiasts and novices alike – our Ceili is the place to be! No partner? No problem! Experience? Not necessary! All you need is a thirst for fun and a readiness to let your inner dancer shine. Come join us on the third Friday of every month, as we embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart and soul of Ireland’s largest social dance.

Indulge yourself in an evening of Set dancing, a traditional Irish dance style that brings people together in a symphony of synchronized movements. Picture this: dancers forming vibrant squares, gracefully weaving their way through intricate patterns, as laughter and cheers fill the air. Prepare to be amazed as those seasoned old-timers showcase their mind-boggling footwork, leaving you in awe and inspiration.

But this is not just about watching – this is about joining in on the action! Get ready to work up a sweat and feel the joy coursing through your veins as you step, twirl, and stomp your way through each exuberant dance. With each whirl and twinkle of your feet, you’ll feel a surge of adrenaline, a fire within you that ignites your soul and makes you come alive.

The 3rd Friday Ceili is not just a dance event; it’s a carnival of emotion, a celebration of culture, and a gathering of kindred spirits. With every beat of the bodhrán and every fiddle’s sweet melody, you’ll find yourself immersed in a rich tapestry of Irish heritage. The Ceili is where friendships are born, memories are made, and a community of dance enthusiasts come together under one roof to spread the joy of Irish dancing.

So, whether you’re a seasoned dancer looking to master new steps or a curious soul eager to dive into uncharted dance territory, come join us at the 3rd Friday Ceili. Experience the pulse-pounding rhythms, the infectious energy, and a sense of belonging that will leave you longing for more. Let your feet find their rhythm, your heart find its joy, and your spirit find its home. The dance floor awaits you, eager to witness the magic that happens when passion meets dance – don’t miss out on this extraordinary journey into the heart of Irish culture!

Remember, the 3rd Friday Ceili is where the music calls, the floor invites, and the memories are forever etched in your soul. Come one, come all, and let’s dance the night away!

3rd Friday Ceili

Jan. 19, 2024

6:30pm-9:30pm

Waverly, 3300 SE Woodward St, Portland, OR

Music: Gerlidne Murrary

Calling: Maldon Meehan

  • Lesson
  • Merchant
  • Lancers
  • Antrim Square
  • Claddagh
  • Plain Set
  • Ballyvourney
  • Connemara
Blog

Discover the dance trick that will blow your mind

maldonm

Learn a fascinating dance trick that will transform your reel steps into lively jig steps! During a memorable trip to RosMuc, Connemara, I discovered this technique while waiting for a bus with the talented Kieran Jordan. She taught me Roisin’s jig steps, whic turned out to be the same as her reel steps but in jig time. This got me thinking – could I do the same thing with other reel steps? And the answer is a resounding yes!

By simply eliminating one beat in a reel step, it seamlessly becomes a jig step. Some steps will amaze you and become beloved additions to your dance repertoire, while others may not be as interesting or easy to convert into jig steps. 

To illustrate this concept, I have prepared a FREE lesson showcasing the transformation of the shuffle back step. You will find this lesson at the end of this article.

But it doesn’t end there. After discussing this technique with the talented dancer Ben Power, we discovered that you can amplify the effect by adding two beats instead of eliminating one. The step becomes a rhythmic sequence of 123456. It took some practice, but once it clicked, the results were truly incredible. 

In this lesson, I also demonstrate how you can take a reel step and adjust the movements to fit the 6/8 time signature, resulting in a captivating fusion of styles. You will find this lesson at the end of this article. Members this concept is taught in the March 2024 Jig course.

I invite you to share your own experiences and steps applying this concept. Remember, this trick can be applied to any step and time signature – reel steps into polka steps, slide steps into hornpipes, and beyond. It’s a valuable technique that I personally use when creating new steps and honing my improvisation skills. As you explore this exciting path, you’ll be able to effortlessly incorporate it into your dancing. Get ready for a super fun and thrilling journey! 

I look forward to hearing from you and witnessing the innovative steps you create using this technique.