Classes, Irish Set Dancing, Past Classes

Fridays 6:30pm | 2025 Fall | Irish Set Dances and Kitchen Dances

intro

Welcome to Fall Term!

Through structured steps, humor and joy, explore these two Irish social dances with community. As you do, you’ll also learn about the culture from which the dances originated. All levels welcome.

Fall Term runs October 3 – December 12 (Notes: No class 10/17, 11/7, 11/21, 11/28. No black-soled shoes)

Course Resources

Week by Week

DanceSteps & MovesBackground
Week 1: 10/3Kitchen Dance:
The Corn Reeks
(Na Corn Rigs)
hop 123
hop 1234567
hop back, hop back, hop 123
house around
Article in The Irish Times
Set Dance:
Connemara Reel Set
lift 123
Lead Around / Back
Advance & Retire
House Around
Swing
Follows Chain
Week 2:
10/10
Kitchen Dances:
Stack of Barley
Week 3:
10/17
No PCC class
3rd Friday Céilí @ Waverly
Week 4:
10/24
No PCC class
Concert @ Waverly

Week 5:
10/31
Set Dance:
Connemara Reel Set
Canadian Barndance
Merchant
Week 6:
11/7
Week 7:
11/14
Week 8:
11/21
No PCC Class
3rd Friday Céilí @ Waverly
Week 9:
11/28
No PCC Class
Butterball @ Kathleen’s
Week 10:
12/5
Week 11:
12/12

playlist

On this tab you will find playlists for the music, sets and video lessons for the whole course.




history

History/Background

Set dancing teacher Padraig Mc Eneany posted a video of the French Lancers. It’s so cool! I’ve always hear about the Irish Set and other squares/sets coming from the orignial French Quadrila but never had the chance to see one. This is well worth watching if you are a set dance nerd. Same but different!

Barbra and Bret sent this to me and I wanted to share it with all of you:

  • History/Background – this a great video of set dancing on the site. One of the dancers look to me like the late Willie Keane. (the taller lead).

Kitchen Dance: The Corn Reeks (Na Corn Rigs)

  • In: hop (or drop) 123, hop (or drop) 123 (2x)
  • Out: hop back hop back hop back hop back
  • house: hop 123 (6x), hop back hop back hop back hop back

connemara

Connemara Reel Set

This playlsit has several Connemara dances. The first set is the Connemara Reel Set that we danced in class.

corn

Kitchen Dance: The Corn Reeks (Na Corn Rigs)

  • In: hop (or drop) 123, hop (or drop) 123 (2x)
  • Out: hop back hop back hop back hop back
  • house: hop 123 (6x), hop back hop back hop back hop back

stack

Stack of Barley

barndance

Canadian Barn Dance

merchant

Classes, Past Classes

10/2025 Maldon’s Performance Process

I have a goal of getting back into dance shape and back to preforming. I tought that I would record my process and share it with you.

Material Samhain Folder

  • W 10/01 – am Class, private lesson, pm Class, prep, listen, 4 hours
  • T 10/02 – Fiddler’s She Performance, listen 4 hours
  • F 10/03 – am class, Melt, Cape Breton, pm class, listen – 4.5 hours
  • S 10/04 – Yoga Nidra, Irish langae, walk, listen – 3.5 hours
  • S 10/05 – walk, listen, 2 hours
  • M 10/06 – am class, accordion, fumble, listen – 4 hours (had AI symptoms) – over did it, off on medication. Had to bring the walker back into the mix, not a good day!
  • T 10/07 rest, sets, listen – 6 hours
  • W 10/08 – am class, open studio – Melt Feet & Melt Lowback, pm class, listen – 3.5 hours
  • T 10/09 – Waltz Clog, stamina, listen – 2 hours
  • F 10/10 – am class, walk – 3 hours
  • S 10/11 – Walk – 1 hour
  • S 10/12 – Melt Feet & Melt Lowback, – 1 hour
  • M 10/13 – am class, open studio,
  • T 10/14 -sets
  • W 10/15 – am class, open studio, pm class
  • T 10/16 –
  • F 10/17 – am class, open studio, céilí
  • S 10/18 –
  • S 10/19 –
  • M 10/20 – am class, open studio,
  • T 10/21 – sets
  • W 10/22 – am class, open studio, pm class
  • T 10/23 –
  • F 10/24 – am class, open studio,
  • S 10/25 – Samhain Festival
  • S 10/26 –
  • M 10/27 – am class, open studio,
  • T 10/28 – sets
  • W 10/29 – am class, open studio, pm class
  • T 10/30 –
  • F 10/31 – am class, open studio,

Blog

Breaking News | The Fall Schedule is out NOW!

FALL 2025

Classes & Events with Maldon Meehan


WEEKLY CLASSES

Mondays – 7:30am · Woodshedding (Zoom)
Tuesdays – 6:30pm · Irish Set Dancing (In-Person, Portland)
Wednesdays – 7:30am · Keep Her Lit (Zoom)
       6:30pm · Sean-nós Dance (Zoom)
Fridays – 7:30am · Speed & Craic (Zoom)

Private Lessons — Now booking limited spots (online or in-person)


SEPTEMBER

Sept. 19 · 7pm – 3rd Friday Céilí
Waverly, 3300 SE Woodward St, Portland
with Bob Soper · First Céilí of the season

Sept. 27 · 12pm – Irish/Scottish Céilí
with Preston Howard Wilde & Ellisa Chandler
Waverly, Portland
Celebrating Maldon & Amber’s 50th Birthday


OCTOBER

Oct. 2 – Fiddlers She – Alberta Rose Theater
Jacie Sites, Celeste Johnson, Aarun Carter, Brongaene Griffin & more

Oct. 17 · 7pm – 3rd Friday Céilí
Waverly, Portland

Oct. 25 – Samhain Festival – Salem, OR
Performing with Betsy Branch & Dylan Wilde
Workshops & Family Céilí with Na Róisí
Festival info


NOVEMBER

Nov. 7–9 – Yachats Celtic Music Festival · Yachats, OR

Nov. 13 – Sean-nós Dance Workshop · Eugene, OR
Sponsored by Frolicking Meese
Details here

Nov. 21 · 7pm – 3rd Friday Céilí
Waverly, Portland

Nov. 28 · 7pm – Butterball Céilí
Private Home (contact Maldon for details)


DECEMBER

Dec. 19 · 7pm – 3rd Friday Céilí
Waverly, Portland