We will explore hornpipes, both traditional old style and Sean-nos inspired steps. Over the month each of will work on creating our own steps and style for dancing to hornpipes.
week 1
WEEK 1 | Class notes
week 2
WEEK 2 | Class notes
week 3
WEEK 3 | Class notes
Week 3. Find a tune that you like dancing to and put steps to the tune. Hornpipe steps, reel steps, jig or slide steps. You can create steps or create a routine or just improv to the tune.
The month of April we will be learning sets from Connemara.
Irish Set Dancing
Saturday 4-6pm
Waverly United Church of Christ
3300 SE Woodward St, Portland, OR, United States, Oregon
$10 general, $5 students
Last Saturday Céilí ~ 4-7 ~ Live Music
week 1
WEEK 1 | Class notes
Saturday April 1, 2023
Our set of the week is: The Connemara Set
Footwork for the Connemara. The Connemara step and the stamp and stamp step. The stamp and stamp step can help you travel when you are first starting out it might be hard to travel across the floor and I find this step easer to move further. I used it for years until I was able to dance the Connemara step fully.
The Connemara set is a nice 4 figure set. The first sides are on the right of first tops.
We reviewed the Seit Doire Cholmcille (Derry Set). We covered this dance in February. Videos and instructions can be found on the February class page under the week 1 tab.
We also danced 3 figures of the Inis Oirr Set.
week 2
WEEK 2 | Class notes
Sat. April 8, 2023
Set of the Week: The Claddagh Set
This another Connemara set. It was taught by Seamus O Meoloid a great set dancer and Sean-nós dancer. The set was revived in Ráth Chairn, Co. Meath. There is a Gaeltacht in Ráth Chairn.
“n 1935 a number of families from the Connemara Gaeltacht were transplanted east to Ráth Chairn to live on land acquired by the Land Commission. It continues today as a thriving Gaeltacht, where Irish is spoken and its traditions embraced through dance and music.” from Ireland XO.
My hope is to keep working on this set and have become one of Portland’s regular dances.
Quarterly CCE open house and fundraising event. Our quarterly Saturday Rambling House returns for an half-day event featuring a General Meeting of the branch followed by instrumental sessions, singing circles, and music & dance workshops. Potluck and full céilí dance to follow! This is a great opportunity to introduce members of the wider Portland community to Irish cultural traditions while bolstering our current MÓD community with convivial conversation, moving music, superb singing, deft dancing, and FOOD!
This March, our theme of the month will be advance and retires. We will focus on basic Clare advance and retires as well as including some battering. We will continue to review previous techniques and learn new dances.
As always I encourage you to review the videos and instructions before and after class. If you don’t have time, I’ve got your back. I will break everything down nice and handy and we will progress through the months dances. There’s never a better time to enjoy the art of Irish Set dancing. St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner!
Irish Set Dancing
Saturday 4-6pm
Waverly United Church of Christ
3300 SE Woodward St, Portland, OR, United States, Oregon
This is one of my favorite sets. It is one I love teaching both beginners and experienced dancers. It’s the perfect set for perfecting housing and dancing at home. It also allows room for battering. The set can be receptive and when you aren’t focusing on footwork it some might call it boring. But adding a little battering and some great advance and retire steps lights up the dance. We will cover the basics and beginning of advancing and retiring as well as more advanced steps for those with more experience.
If there is time we will review the Claddagh Set. Reviewing the instructions and video before class will give you a nice leg up. If you don’t have time or forget no worries I’ve got your back and will teach and call everything.
If there is time we will review the Seit Doire Cholmcille (Derry Set). We covered this dance in February. Videos and instructions can be found on the February class page under the week 1 tab.
week 3
WEEK 3 | Class notes
Sat. March 18, 2023
Our set of the week is: Corofin Plain
Jim Belcher recently taught a lesson on the Corofin Plain set at our Sweet Hearts dance in February. We will review the set and add more footwork.
If there is time we will review the The Cashel or (The Castle). We covered this dance in February. Videos and instructions can be found on the February class page under the week 2 tab.
Your challenge is to decided how often you will practice and what you will practice. As part of the St. Practice to St. Patrick’s challenge I will be offering an open studio starting next week. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30am PST. Bring what you plan on practicing and your music and join us for some accountability. Zoom Link Here.
Can’t make to open studio’s. Design your own practice routine at home. Share your ideas, progress, struggles in the Facebook group.
There are several recesses to help you get inspired on the website. The Your Ultimate Practice Guide is one place to start.
This February, let’s double our love! Our goal is for everyone to gain mastery in the skill of doubling as we learn several dances featuring this special move. From Seit Doire Cholmcille (Derry Set) and Cashel Sets to Clare Lancers, Myserks and Caledonian – there are plenty of opportunities during the month-long event to perfect your technique. Let’s get ready to take a twirl through these traditional dance styles – twice!
Irish Set Dancing
Saturday 4-6pm
Waverly United Church of Christ
3300 SE Woodward St, Portland, OR, United States, Oregon
$10 general, $5 students
week 1
WEEK 1 | Class notes
Sat. Feb. 4, 2023
Our set of the week is: Seit Doire Cholmcille (Derry Set)
This set was composed by Frankie Roddy. Frankie was a wonderful dancer from Derry. When I meet him in 1999 he was just getting back to dancing after some health issues. My fellow student at the University of Limerick ended up writing her theses on him. We traveled together to attend in his adult ceili class and to have a chance to chat with him again. At the time he was the only person we could find that was teaching ceili dancing to adults. He was a great solo dancer and had a school of dance. His son was the evil lead in Lord of the Dance. When Josephine and I meet him in Limerick he was the light we were looking for. We were both struggling in our studies and it was so lovely to meet such an amazing and generous person. I am happy to be reviving his dance here in Portland. I hope it one that we will dance many times in Frankie’s memory. I learned this dance from Anne McCallum at the Milwaukee Irish Festival Summer School.
This dance is from Tipperary and was taught by the late great Connie Ryan. Many of the dance instructors that you know and love learned from Connie and followed him around the country to workshops and dances. In this particular video you can see Connie Ryan in first tops, Pat Murphy in first sides and Pádraig & Róisín McEneany in second sides.
