Category: Classes

Maldon’s Advance & Retire Step Woodshedding

Maldon’s Advance & Retire Step Page. Members if you want to go down the rabbit hole on this step check out the playlist on the step page.

The Maldon Advance & Retire Step, inspired by the Devane’s and Ó Haibicín’s steps, is perfect for both set dancing and sean-nós dancing. I designed this step to simplify the advance & retire movement, making it accessible for everyone. We had been practicing complex steps, which were difficult to perform at full speed. Below are three versions of this step—pick the one that suits your level best.

Having these variations allows you to dance at any tempo. If the music is too fast, I simplify the steps by removing beats to make it easier.

In this woodshed

• Devane (Devane Family Page)
• Heel Backs
• Shuffle
• Level 1 – Advance & Retire with steps at the end
• Level 2 – Advance & Retire with shuffle at the end
• Level 3 – with 3 heel backs and shuffle at the end

Level 1 – Advance & Retire with steps at the end

• heel ball slap, heel ball slap, heel ball slap, down down | ball drop drop, ball drop drop, ball drop drop, down down
• 123, 123, 123, 1 2 | 123, 123, 123, 1 2
• dapa da, dapa da, dapa da, da da | dapa da, dapa da, dapa da, da da

Level 2 – Advance & Retire with shuffle at the end

• heel ball slap, heel ball slap, heel ball slap, down down | ball drop drop, ball drop drop, down shuff-le drop tap
• 123, 123, 123, 1 2 | 123, 123, 12345
• dapa da, dapa da, dapa da, da da | dapa da, dapa da, dapa dapa da

Level 3 – with 3 heel backs and shuffle at the end

• heel ball slap, heel ball slap, heel ball slap, down down | ball drop drop, ball drop drop, ball drop drop, shuff-le drop tap
• 123, 123, 123, 1 2 | 123, 123, 123 45&6
• dapa da, dapa da, dapa da, da da | dapa da, dapa da, dapa dapa da

Tricky Step Woodshedding

Tricky Step – Members if you want to go down the rabbit hole on this step check out the playlist on the step page.

In 2009, I was performing in the Portland Revels and teaching classes in my friend Shannon’s living room, just before opening the Stomptown Collective studio.

Whenever I’m dancing a lot or performing in a show, new steps tend to emerge. One day, while dancing in my kitchen, I created this step and what would become our Day 3 step. Somewhere, I have an old recording of my creation, complete with the sound of pots and pans rattling in the background.

That week, I shared these steps in class. One of the dancers asked if they had a name. Since I had just created them, they didn’t. She decided to name them on the spot. “That’s tricky, it should be called Tricky,” she said for the first one. When I taught the next step, she exclaimed, “That’s Madness.” The names have stuck ever since. I always think of these two steps together, and I remember that student fondly whenever I teach them.

In this woodshed

• Level 1 – Tricky no extra beats
• Level 2 – Tricky with a tap
• Level 3 – Tricky with the ending

Tricky with slow music

Madness Step Woodshedding

Madness Step – Members if you want to go down the rabbit hole on this step check out the playlist on the step page.

Maldon After Mick Step Woodshedding

Maldon After Mick Step – Members if you want to go down the rabbit hole on this step check out the playlist on the step page.

This was a step that I made up to help me remember the rhythm of Mick’s step when I couldn’t do the step up to speed yet.

Mick’s orginal step – Two sided – Mick’s Page

Both of these steps are great for set dancing and for sean-nós dancing.

Ti Albion Cool Heels Step Woodshedding

Ti Albion Cool Heels Step – Members if you want to go down the rabbit hole on this step check out the playlist on the step page.

Quincy’s Slide Step Woodshedding

Quincy’s Slide Step – Members if you want to go down the rabbit hole on this step check out the playlist on the step page. You will also find a link to the Rookery Course with all the steps and lessons from that dance number.