Author: maldonm

Classes, Past Classes

Maldon’s 3 Month Goal | Step Creation

maldonm

intro

My 3 month goal (90 day goal) to create dance steps. My adution goal is to create steps to one tune a week. I am going to use the Album Brightly or Darkly by Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen. I am going record some of my improvisaional session and then once I have a step that I can repeate on right and left side I will record a woodshed session with that step.

I will track my time and get a since of how much time it takes me to create these steps. And adjust my goal from there.

brightly or darkly

Past Classes

Fiddle, Harp & Feet Workshop #1

maldonm

intro

Fiddle, Harp & Feet Workshop #1

January 27, 6:30-8:30 pm

Maldon’s studio (2400 NE Alberta St. Upstairs! Look for sandwich boards to find back entrance)

$20 (payable at class, but please pre-register): cash, check or Venmo

Each workshop will have a different type of tune that we will focus on.  Our first session this month will focus on waltzes.  Elizabeth chose 2 waltzes common in harp repertoire, and Betsy chose 2 that are common for fiddles.  Maldon will teach 3 dances:  Set dance in waltz time, waltzing, and waltz clog (dancing percussively in waltz time). Recordings and sheet music are attached (NOTE: Elizabeth’s 2 waltzes are in one pdf) We won’t spend class time learning the tunes.  You can either learn the tunes beforehand, bring sheet music to read, or challenge yourself to learn them on the fly during class (if you want to work on that!).  We want our classes to be accessible to many levels of players, so if you can’t learn 4 waltzes, come anyway. We’ll be able to show you ways to participate musically anyway!

We would like to highlight how we all can combine the elements of music in our playing and dancing.  Fiddles usually play melodies, but can also play harmonies, backup and rhythm. Harps often do backup, but can also play melodies, harmonies and rhythm.  And dancers can combine both melody and backup playing into their dancing.  

We love the vision of learning and growing as a community of musicians, rather than in our own musical corners.  So much traditional music and dance over the years has been done all together, with people of varying abilities.  The more advanced players can often be so inspiring and nurturing to newer players, and also can learn from the newer players some of the things that might never have been taught to them.

We hope that many of you will want to come to all the classes that we do, but they can be taken one at a time, so it’s OK to miss some if you’re unable to do them all.   We will also have classes on February 24 and March 24, same time and same place, but different musical focus.

Please let any of us know if you have any questions.

Betsy, Elizabeth & Maldon

drink

Download Tune & sheet Music

Dance Steps

scarborough

Download Tune & sheet Music

jeunes

Download Tune & sheet Music

pastouriaux

Download Tune & sheet Music

partner

Partner – Waltzing

Step 1 2 3

Frame

Turn & hands

group

The Waltz Cotillon – Instructions

waltz clog

Waltz Clogs

Traditional Pattern

  • Basic or Timing step
  • trick
  • Basic or Timing step
  • trick
  • Basic or Timing step
  • trick
  • Trick
  • Ending

Down the Rabit hole – here is a playlist of several classes covering the waltz clog steps.

Beginners, Blog, Irish Sean-nós Dance

Week 1 | Step of the Week | Connemara Step

maldonm

This is the Connemara step. This version is the step version vs the hop version. Both versions are at the heart of Connemara sean-nós dancing and Connemara set dancing. It is a key component of the Connemara Set, island sets like Inis Oirr and Inis Meáin, and the Claddagh Set, which Seamus O Meoloid revived in Ráth Chairn, Meath.

Ráth Chairn, a village with a rich history, was founded in 1935 by 27 families from Connemara, with 11 more joining in 1937. These families brought with them vibrant traditions, including the Claudagh set. Known for its sean-nós dance heritage, Ráth Chairn was designated a Gaeltacht in 1967.

I had the privilege of attending a set dance workshop led by Seamus at the University of Limerick. Seamus was generous and an excellent teacher. If you get the chance to watch him dance, take a lesson, or chat with him, don’t miss it. His dancing style is delightful; he often starts with a smooth lead-in before transitioning to percussive dancing, almost as if testing the tune. He has a playful style reminiscent of the dancers from the late 1990s—a joyful, fun, and sometimes comic approach that I don’t see as often today. It’s the kind of dancing that makes you smile.

Below is a video that breaks down the step without music. We also offer practice videos with music to get you started on the Connemara step. Enjoy dancing!