Sean-nós & Set Dance with Maldon
Specializing in easy to follow step by step instruction for all levels
Playlist for the term:
The Harvest Dance Set – Composed by Edwina Guckian
Merchant Set – Composed by Pádraig & Róisín McEneany
Kilfenora Plain Set – This link has more details about this dance and a direct link to each figure if you just want to watch one at a time or go directly to one.
The month of June we will continue to explore dancing by ear and learning tunes in our feet.
Youtube playlist – I made a youtube playlist as not everyone has spotify or Apple Music. Please add tunes to this list. If you have a tune or a version of one of the tunes we have been working on that you like, please add it to the whole list here and we can all use the track.
| Monday | Wednesday | Friday | |
| 7:30am | Woodshed | Keep Her Lit | Speed & Craic |
| Week 1 The Green Groves of Erin / Burnes | June 2 | June 4 | June 6 |
| Week 2 An Spailpín Fánach/Step it out Joe | June 9 | June 11 | June 13 |
| Week 3 Polly Put the Kettle on | June 16 | June 18 | June 19 |
| Week 4 New Mown Meadow | June 23 | June 25 | June 27 |
| NO CLASS | June 29-NO CLASS |
Learn and woodshed the tune and steps
Play and improve with material and dance at various tempos.
Learn and woodshed the tunes and steps
Review tune of the week and dance past tunes
Play and improv with material and dance at various tempos.
Learn and woodshed the tune and steps
Review tune of the week and dance past tunes
Play and improve with material and dance at various tempos.
Learn and woodshed the tune and steps
Review tune of the week and dance past tunes
Play and improve with material and dance at various tempos.
| Monday | Wednesday | Friday | |
| 7:30 AM PST | Dance by Ear Learn the tune | Dance by Ear Keep Her Lit Woodshed & build steps | Dance by Ear Speed & Craic |
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 |
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 |
The Congress Reel – download tune
Learning is at the end of class I think
Concertina Reel – Learning is a the beginning of class.
Learn / Woodshed
Keep Her Lit
Files & recordings
Links
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 has many steps. Explore the playlist below. There are videos of each step broken down as well as videos of practicing the whole dance.
Maldon’s Youtube Playlist
Aidan videos
Aiden Vaughan 0-80
Aiden Vaughan 80-100
Mick’s Dance at home step (AKA $500 step)
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
Dance Steps & learning by feet or ear
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.
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.