Claddagh Set dance instructions – detailed instructions with written descriptions of each move. This is from the Dance Minder site, a great resource for dances. Much like the session.org is for music the danceminder.com is for set dancing.
I have written out my callers notes for each figure. I like having simpler callers notes to reference as the dance minder notes are very detailed and harder to take a quick look at for referencing once you know the moves from the dance and need to just remember the order of things.
Unique to this dance:
House: cross hand house half way, then lead back home half way. I will just call it house.
Ladies Chain: right in the center, left to the to the opposite (gent dose not turn around he faces forward the whole time, making sure to dance to the right and back so that the lady can get around him). Ladies no chain on the way back.
Here is a video from Ireland of the whole dance straight though with no teaching.
Figure 1 – Dance around the opposite
Memorizing tips
Lead Around: the lead around is for 6, turn 7 & 8, lead back is for 6, gents back to the set, lady facing him for 7 & 8
The swing with opposite is for 6, 7 & 8 to get back to your partner, keeping the pointy hand with the opposite. You partner can help by dancing 7 & 8 up to meet you.
After dance around opposite and swing we will always dance Advance/House/Swing
The couple or dancer who is active in the next movement dances out the last 2 bars (7 & 8) before they start the movement.
Last Swing: All step out the last 2 bars (7 & 8)
Starts with Lead around/Lead back/Swing and ends with all swing.
First Figure – “Dance around the opposite” Reels
192
All
Lead around for 6, turn for 2 (Cross hand) Lead back for 6 (gent finish with back to set, lady facing) Swing (waltz hold)
24
1st Top
Gent & Opposite lady dance a circle around each other Swing for 6, back up to home keeping pointy hand
16
Tops
Advance & Retire 2x House Swing
24
1st Side
Gent & Opposite Lady dance a circle around each other Swing for 6, back up to home keeping pointy hand
16
Sides
Advance & Retire 2x House Swing
24
2nd Top
Gent & Opposite Lady dance a circle around each other Swing for 6, back up to home keeping pointy hand
16
Tops
Advance & Retire 2x House Swing
24
2nd Side
Gent & Opposite Lady dance a circle around each other Swing for 6, back up to home keeping pointy hand
16
Sides
Advance & Retire 2x House
16
All
Swing to finish
8
Figure 2
Memorizing tips
Circle Advance and Retire, Advance and Retire and the lead around are all for 6, with the last 2 bars as a step it out.
The circle advance & retire for 6 bars and then face your partner for the last 2 bars.
The advance and retire to the center is for 6 and step out the last 2 bars as you get into the Christmas.
LADIES CHAIN – Every time there is a ladies chain in this figure it is followed by a house and swing (Montra – chain/house/swing). The Christmas always has a ladies chain after it. The gent dances to the right and back to the left so that he can allow for the lady to get around him.
SECOND MOVEMENT – (mantra)
gents star/lead/advance/christmas
chain/house/swing
Second Figure – “Christmas” Reels
All
Advance & retire 2x (Cross hands)
8
Swing
8
Top
Ladies Chain House Swing
24
Sides
Ladies Chain House Swing
24
Top
Gents Right hand star in the center Left hand back for 2, pick partner dance on spot for 2
8
Tops
Lead round for 6, back up into home spot Advance & Retire, Advance & Dance on spot (open waltz hold) Christmas (ladies hand on gent near shoulder) Ladies Chain House Swing
48
Side
Gents right hand turn / Left hand back / pick up partner
8
Sides
Lead around Advance & Retire, Advance & Dance on spot (open waltz hold) Christmas (ladies hand on gent near shoulder) Ladies Chain House
48
All
Swing to finish
8
Figure 3
Memorizing tips
The beginning and end movement are the same
3rd figure montra – circle/house/swing to start and to end the dance
First movement mantra star/house/swing
CROSS CHAIN – ALL ladies look to the left (this is the first gent you will chain with) Gents help them out!
TOP LADIES – chain twice first, then advance to the gent on the right and cross over to end up beside him
SIDE LADIES – advance to the gent on the right and cross inside twice/ chain twice
CROSS CHAIN – TOP GENTS
First chain – advance/turn
Second chain – turn/chain
Third chain – turn/chain
Fourth chain – advance/turn
CROSS CHAIN – SIDE GENTS
First chain – turn/chain
Second chain – advance/turn
Third chain – advance/turn
Fourth chain – turn/chain
Finished circle/house/swing same way it begins
Third Figure – “Cross Chain” Reels
All
Circle Advance & Retire, Advance & turn to partner House Swing
24
Ladies
Right hand star / Left hand back for 2 / Gent turn lady for 2
8
Gents
Left hand star / Right hand back for 2 / Gent turn lady for 2
8
All
House Swing
16
All
Cross Chain (top ladies lead) Swing
16
Cross Chain (top ladies lead) Swing
16
Cross Chain (side ladies lead) Swing
16
Cross Chain (side ladies lead) Swing
16
All
Circle Advance & Retire, Advance & turn to partner House Swing
24
Figure 4
Polka down jig step
Beginning montra circle/chain/swing
Active couple goes under the arch first (mantra) arch/house/swing
Leading order: 1st Tops/1st sides/2nd top/2nd sides
Ending mantra chain/swing (you don’t repeat the beginning exactly!)
Figure 4 – Arches – Jigs 192 bars
Fourth Figure – “Arches” Jig
All
Circle Advance & Retire 2x Grand Chain (turn lady in opposite position) Chain home (dance on the spot for 2 bars) Swing
32
Tops
Advance & Retire / Arch (1st Tops under the arch lady turn 2x) Advance & Retire / Arch (2nd Tops under the arch lady turn 2x) House Swing
32
Sides
Advance & Retire / Arch (1st Sides under the arch lady turn 2x) Advance & Retire / Arch (2nd Sides under the arch lady turn 2x) House Swing
32
Tops
Advance & Retire / Arch (2nd Tops under the arch lady turn 2x) Advance & Retire / Arch (1st Tops under the arch lady turn 2x) House Swing
32
Sides
Advance & Retire / Arch (2nd Sides under the arch lady turn 2x) Advance & Retire /Arch (1st Sides under the arch lady turn 2x) House Swing
Discover the roots of modern Irish step dance with old-style step dance. This traditional style, distinct from sean-nós dance, will be familiar to experienced step dancers. In old-style step dance, each step is performed for eight bars, alternating between the right and left foot. In this course, we will focus on learning St. Patrick’s Day, a captivating set dance. Set dances are known for their unique rhythmic patterns, with varying bar counts that add an intriguing twist to the music. St. Patrick’s day has an 8 bar first part and a 14 bar second part.
Michael Tubridy’s Book A selection of Irish Traditional Step Dances – This whole book is available free of charge. The videos that accompany this book are also on youtube now. Michael created a notation system and had the sheet music as well as the dance notation and words for the steps written in the book.
week 1
Week 1
Frist Step
Shuffle Down Shuffle Down Shuffle Down Shuffle Down Shuffle hop treble hop back hop out hop out
hop down kick hop down shuffle down tip heel down shuffle hop treble hop back hop back 2 3 4
Listen to the B part and sing, hum or speak the steps without dancing
Using the Amazing Slowerdowner, YouTube or another app that slows music down and dance the B part only until you can dance it at the speed of the recording without mistakes. If you are using YouTube there are several recordings of the tune the tune. Quite a few with the bpm listed. The best one in terms of quality of playing is: Cover the Buckle.
Drill just small parts of the dance that you are struggling with.
Next step: download the whole tune (found in the intro tab) and dance the 1st sep and the 1st set together.
