Classes – Sean-nós & Set Dance with Maldon

2025 May | 7:30 AM | M,W,F | Dance by Ear

May 5, 2025May 12, 2025 maldonm

intro

Dance by Ear – Folder of Spring Showcase Tunes

	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
7:30 AM PST	Dance by Ear Learn the tune	Dance by Ear Woodshed & build steps	Dance by Ear Speed & Craic

wild night

Many a Wild Night – This tune is from a set that Sliabh Notes plays. Sliabh Notes is Matt Cranitch (fiddle), Dónal Murphy (accordion), and Tommy O’Sullivan (guitar). The set is: Many a wild night / John Walsh’s polka / Daly’s mill. The Daly’s Mill is in the spring student showcase file as well.
In our class recording I ment to be talking about this tune as the Sliabh Notes set of tunes that Portland has been playing. Also Desi Wilkinson is not in this band he is in the band Cran – which I also used for teaching for years and around the sametime that I was working with the Sliabh Notes album. I discovred both of these albums when I was in Ireland studying for my masters and both Matt and Dessie were around the college doing their PhD work at the same time I was there. Chemo brain at it best, sorry about that!
Cran – Black Black Black – 1998
Sliabh Notes – Gleanntán – 1999
Both of these albums were my go to albums during that time and when I fist started teaching Sean-nós in America in 1999.
Apple Music Playlist –
Youtube Playlist –
Spotify playlist – I was able to fine tunes better on this.

Many a Wild Night – Here is a rought rhythmic layout of the tune.

A PART		A PART		B PART		B PART
A	1	A	1	A	1	A	1
	2		2		2		2
	3		3		3		3
	4		4		4		4
A	5	A	5	A	5	A	5
	6		6		6		6
	7		7	B	7	B	7
	8		8		8		8

blackthorn

The Blackthorn Stick – download the recording
The Blakcthorn Stick on the session.org
Apple Music Playlist – you can add version that you like. I also found a reel with the same name. It’s a fantastic tune! Worth exploring that tune as well.
Youtube Playlist – you can add to this list as well.

The Blackthorn Stick

Here is a rough outline of the rythmic patterns in the tune. Even though there are higher notes and other things happening with the tune I am seeing 4 rythmic paterns that are repeated and are the start of creating simple steps with this pattern. As we play more with the tune we will hear more and add more varation in tone to match the tune.

A PART		A PART		B PART		B PART
A	1	A	1	C	1	C	1
	2		2		2		2
B	3	B	3	D	3	D	3
	4		4		4		4
A	5	A	5	A	5	A	5
	6		6		6		6
B	7	B	7	B	7	B	7
	8		8		8		8

trip

Trip to Sligo – download tune

congress

The Congress Reel – download tune

Classes, In-Person

2025 | April 19 | Student Showcase

April 9, 2025April 15, 2025 maldonm

Feet, Fiddle and Harp!

Camps, Classes, In-Person, Irish Sean-nós Dance, Irish Set Dancing

2025 | April 13-19 | Spring Dance Intensive

March 22, 2025April 17, 2025 maldonm

resources

Files & recordings

Spring Camp Files – tune recordings
Student Showcase Files – Google Drive of tunes, sheet music, video links…

Links

Videos: Mobility with Mel
Playlist: Spotify – 2025 Spring Dance Intensive Playlist
Playlist: Youtube – 2025 Spring Dance Intensive Playlist
Mick Mulkerrin – Dancer Page
Paddy Ban – Dancer Page

sets

Set Dancing

Sets

Steps

Set Dancing Step Page
Clare
- Mick Advance & Retire Step
- $500 Step
- Mick’s Banner Step
- Aidan
- Willie Keane
Connemara & Island
- Connemara Step
Cork/Kerry

sean-nós

Sean-nós Steps

Classes, Past Classes

Mon April 7th | 6:30 pm | Fiddle Harp Feet Workshop #3

March 3, 2025April 9, 2025 maldonm

intro

Fiddle, Harp & Feet Workshop #3

April 7th, 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

Maggie Pickie

Maggie Pickie has many steps. Explore the playlist below. There are videos of each step broken down as well as videos of practicing the whole dance.

Maggie Pickie or Maggie Pickens
Sheet Music
Recording
Spotify Playlist

Maldon’s Youtube Playlist

Maids of Ardagh

Concertina reel

review

Waltz – review waltzes from the first workshop
Jig – review jigs from the second workshop
- Priest in his Boots / Hudie Gallagher’s Jig
- The Blackthorn Stick / Trip to Sligo (Dm version)

Classes, Irish Sean-nós Dance, Irish Set Dancing, Past Classes

Woodshed Clare Battering

February 26, 2025April 3, 2025 maldonm

Aidan

Aidan videos

Aiden Vaughan 0-80

Aiden Vaughan 80-100

Mick

Mick’s Dance at home step (AKA $500 step)

all

Classes, Past Classes

Speed & Endurance

February 11, 2025March 23, 2025 maldonm

Classes, Past Classes

Fiddle, Harp & Feet Workshop #2

February 9, 2025April 10, 2025 maldonm

intro

Fiddle, Harp & Feet Workshop #2

February 24, 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

Hudie

Dance Steps & learning by feet or ear

blackthorn

Dance pay

priest

Frist two steps broken down and strenth warm up

Below is a video of Michael and Céline Tubridy dancing the Priest in His Boots. Maldon learned this dance from Ben Power, who learned if from James Keane of Co. Clare. James’ version is slighly differnt. James version is “crooked” meaning that when he danced the musician played the tune AA/BB/AA/B/AA/BB and James dance the steps that way. Michael and Céline Tubridy dance it straight AA/BB format. Michael learned the dance from Dan Furry and Michael took the liberity of straightening out the steps/tune. James and Dan danced together.

James Keane’s or Dan Furry version – Ben Power’s students dancing The Priest in His Boots and Ben play the tune on flute with his flute students. Notice the B the second time through the tune is only played once, this is because the step they are dancing is only a 4 bar step repeat on each side to make 8 bars. In Michael and Céline Tubridy version they combine the two steps so that it is semtrical and you have a 16 bar step that is repeated on both sides.

Link to PDF book – Priest in His Boots is on page 3 after the forward. This book is avaialbe free to view on the internet. It is a great resouce for dancers and musicians. Michael has included the sheet music for the tunes as well as the dances written out in his dance notation.

Nearding out – if you want to neard out on this dance here is my full playlist.

trip

Dance Steps

Classes

April 13 – 19 | Spring Dance Intensive

February 9, 2025April 14, 2025 maldonm

intro

Spring Dance Intensive – A Week of Irish Dance & Community

Immerse yourself in the rhythm and tradition of Irish dance at our Spring Dance Intensive! This week-long camp is designed for intermediate to advanced dancers eager to deepen their skills in Sean-nós dancing, set dancing, and percussive dance.

📅 Dates: April 13 – April 19
📍 Location: Alberta Arts District, Portland, Oregon

🔹 Daily Schedule:

2400 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR

4 immersive workshops per day focusing on Sean-nós, set dancing, and percussive dance techniques
5 Evening social dances to practice, connect, and celebrate Irish dance together
Late night music: at the local pub

🔹 Limited Space: Only 10 spots available to ensure individualized instruction and a close-knit experience!

For Out-of-Town Dancers

Need a place to stay? A cozy Airbnb hotel next door is hosting some of our students, and I’d be happy to connect you for shared accommodations.

Explore the Alberta Arts District

No car needed! Our neighborhood is filled with restaurants, shops, and galleries to enjoy between workshops.

🎶 Bonus Perk: Just four blocks away, a lively Irish pub TC O’Leary’s (2926 NE Alberta St) will be hosting music and activities throughout the week—perfect for winding down after a full day of dancing!

📩 Reserve Your Spot Today! Space is limited, so sign up soon for this unforgettable week of dance, music, and community.

schedule

Schedule

Sun 4/13	Mon 4/14	Tue 4/15	Wed 4/16	Thur 4/17	Fri 4/18	Sat 4/19
Pipers Session Pub 2-5pm TC O’Leary’s (2926 NE Alberta St)	Breakfast \| On your own or together a local resturants
	Sean-nós Workshop – 9:00 am – 10::15 am 2400 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR
	Steps & Sets Workshop – 10:30 am – 11:45 am 2400 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR
	Lunch Break \| On your own or together a local resturants
	Sean-nós Workshop – 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR
	Tea & treats 3:15-3:45 2400 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR
	Steps & Sets Workshop 3:45 pm -5 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR
	Dinner Break \| Potluck or on your own
Welcome Session 6:00 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street	Clare Bob Soper 6:00 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street	Connemara Mikey Beglan 6:00 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street	Modern Geraldine Murray 6:00 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street	Sliabh Luchra Betsy Branch 6:00 pm 2400 NE Alberta Street	Ceili Mor 7:00 pm Elliot & Glen Alberta Historic House 5131 NE 23rd Ave	Showcase 5pm Feet, Fiddlers & Harp Tunes/dances Waverly, 3300 SE Woodward St
	Kate & the Lads 8:00 pm TC O’Leary’s 2926 NE Alberta St	Women’s Session 8:00 pm TC O’Leary’s 2926 NE Alberta St	Mikey Beglan 8:00 pm TC O’Leary’s 2926 NE Alberta St

Sunday April 13
- 2pm-5pm Pipers Session at TC O’Leary’s Pub, O’Leary’s 2926 NE Alberta St
- 6pm – Welcome session at Maldon’s house, 2400 NE Alberta St
Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
- 9am – 5pm, 4 workshops a day, Maldon’s house, 2400 NE Alberta St
Monday April 14 – 6pm
- Evening dancing with Bob Soper (fiddle), Called Clare Sets and more
- Maldon’s house, Maldon’s house, 2400 NE Alberta St
Tuesday April 15 – 6pm
- Evening dancing with Mikey Beglan (accordion), Called Galway/Connemara sets and more,
- Maldon’s house, 2400 NE Alberta St
Wednesday April 16 – 6pm
- Evening dancing with Geraldine Murray (banjo/whistle), Called Modern Sets and more
- Maldon’s house, 2400 NE Alberta St
Thursday April 17 – 6pm
- Evening dancing with Betsy Branch (fiddle), Called Cork/Kerry Sets and more
- Maldon’s house, 2400 NE Alberta St
Friday April 18 – 6:30pm
- 3rd Friday Ceili with Elliot Grasso (pipes) & Glen Waddell (guitar)
- Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR (4 block walk)
Saturday April 19 – 5pm
- Feet, Fiddle and Harp Showcase
- Student and teacher performance
- Waverly, 3300 SE Woodward St, Portland, OR (we will need to drive/carpool)

register

Register for the Spring Dance Intensive

Only $250 for the whole week. This includes:

20 workshops
6 evening music/dance sessions
Ceili
Student showcase

What a deal! Limited to only 10 spots.

Classes, Past Classes

Maldon’s 3 Month Goal | Step Creation

January 31, 2025March 23, 2025 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

1. Sir George MacKenzie / Monaghan Twig / Seán Sa Cheo 03:10
2. An Spailpín Fánach / Step It Out Joe 03:12
3. Pride of Roxbury / Paddy Joe Tighe’s / The Road to Town 03:40
4. From Galway to Dublin / The Harp and Shamrock 03:50
5. Maeve’s / Dinny O’Brien’s / Carraigín Ruadh 04:18
6. Allistrum’s / Ned Kelly’s 03:52
7. The Maids of Mitchelstown / Callaghan’s 02:44
8. Joe Bane’s / Ah Surely 04:27
9. Matt Peoples’ / The Rookery 03:06
10. I Ne’er Shall Wean Her / Hardiman’s Fancy 03:21
11. The Haymaker / Return to Camden Town / My Maryanne 04:26
12. Humours of Glynn 03:57
13. Kitty Got a Clinking Coming From the Fair / Flowers of Red Mill / The Strawberry Blossom 03:12
14. Paddy Sean Nancy’s / The Leitrim Thrush / The Holy Land 03:37
15. The Morning Thrush / Spike Island Lasses 04:08
16. Collier’s / The Bucks Of Oranmore
17. The Whole Album – Endurance Challenge

Past Classes

Fiddle, Harp & Feet Workshop #1

January 24, 2025April 10, 2025 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