We start a new term of dancing tomorrow! All are welcome to join at any time. All zooms are recorded for your reference and posted on each individual class page. There will also be recordings of individual steps broken down and danced to slow, medium and fast music for practicing.
Winter 2 Term runs Feb. 16-March 26th.
We will have an end of term celebration on Saturday March 27th. The end of term celebration is open to the public and you are welcome to invite anybody you think might be interested in attending. You can register here for the zoom link and password. The event is free and open to anybody.
Times for all zooms are PST!
Tuesday, February 16
- 12 – 1pm Class | Improvisations: We will be exploring the music of Johnny Connolly and dancing to reels. This class will focus on Connemara “zig zag step” and build improvisational exercises around the movements. All levels are welcome to join. If you’d like to review the step before class a link to the breakdown can be found on the class page.
- 2 – 2:30pm Keep Her Lit | Acapella Jig: We will be running the whole routine starting at 100bpm and ending at 120bpm.
- 3 – 4pm Woodshed | Old-Style: this woodshed will be covering Winter 1 terms old-style steps.
- 5 – 6pm Class | Battering: the first class we will cover the smooth Clare style steps for traveling, advancing and retiring, housing and dancing at home. We will also learn a dance at home battering step and incorporate it into the plain set.
- 6 – 7pm Class | Beginners: Feet & Voice. The first class we will work with the song Cúnla. This is a song that I often dance with Andrea Wild when we perform. It is in jig time.
Wednesday, February 17
- 9 – 10am Tea Time Talk | St. Practice Day: Tea Time this week will focus on the subject of practicing. Do you have any practicing techniques, routines or advice? Are you wanting to create your own practicing routines? Come and join the discussion. Zoom link.
- 12 – 1pm Class | Advanced: In the first class we learn 4 slide steps and work with several tunes. Join us as well explore the wonderful world of slides!
- 2 – 2:30pm Keep Her Lit | Acapella Reel We will be running the whole routine starting at 80bpm and ending at 120bpm.
- 3 – 4pm Woodshed | Beginners We will be practicing material from Tuesday night’s class.
Thursday, February 18
- 12 – 1pm Class | Old-Style The first class we will learn a step from the dancing of Joe O’Donovan as well as 2 more steps from Walsh’s Hornpipe.
- 3 – 4pm Woodshed | Waltz Clog: This class we will practice material from last term’s waltz clog class.
- 5 – 6pm Class | Sets & Calling: We will continue to call dances from our night of sets. Please contact me if you’d like to be a dancer.
- 6 – 7pm Class | Intermediate Feet & Voice: the intermediates will also be working with the song Cúnla. Beginners, you are welcome to come along for some extra practice!
Friday, February 19
- 12 – 1pm Class | Waltz Clog We will add more waltz steps to our repertoire. We will also drill each “trick” from last term as well as the basic step and ending steps. An then create a few steps as a group.
- 2 – 2:30pm Keep Her Lit | Acapella Jig Routine into Acapella Reel Routine. We will dance the whole routine Acapella. We will work on keeping a steady tempo and transitioning from jig time to reel time.
- 3 – 3:30pm Woodshed | Intermediate We will be practicing material from Thursday night’s class.
Musician of the Week: Johnny Connolly!
Johnny Connolly. We will be exploring the music and the life of Johnny Connolly. A great musician and an amazing person. I was lucky enough to meet him on several occasions and to dance to his music. I have created a page for your reference as well as a youtube and spotify playlist. Feel free to save the playlists to your account. I will be adding more to the playlist over time. If you get a chance please watch the documentary on Johnny.
I highly encourage you to watch the documentary on Johnny that is on youtube. I have it in my Johnny Connolly youtube playlist. It is broken up into 4 parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4. Included in the documentary is footage of dancers Máire Áine Ní Iarnáin, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Paraig Ó Haibicín and Máirtín Beag Ó Gríofa (who was Johnny’s second Cousin).
Documentary of the Week: Clog Dance!
Clog Dance (1959) | BFI National Archive: I recently watched this documentary on Clog Dancing and shoe making from Portmadoc, North Wales. Incredible footage and presentation of dancing.
Playlist of the Week: Waltzes!
I have been busy working on music and dance resource pages. Those of you interested in waltzes and waltz clog dancing from all traditions will find these pages helpful. There are dances from Tap, English, Canadian and more. There are over 100 dance videos in the playlist. I have also included a playlist of many of the waltz clog videos from my site all in one place. Happy exploring folks. Waltz Dance Page and the Waltz Music Page.
