Category: Past Classes

Irish Sean-nós Dance, Old-Style Step Dance, Past Classes

2023 June | Thu 6pm | Hornpipes!

maldonm

intro

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.

week 4

WEEK 4 | Class notes

week 5

resources

Classes, In Person Set Dance, Irish Set Dancing, Past Classes

2023 April | Saturday 4pm | Set Dancing [IN-PERSON]

maldonm

intro

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.

Connemara Set

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.

If there is time we will review the Connemara and The Derry set.

week 3

WEEK 3 | Class notes

Sat. April 15, 2023

Our set of the week is: Foraer a Neaintín (Connemara Jig)

If there is time we will review the Claddagh set.

Week 4

WEEK 4 | Class notes

Sat. April 22 2023

Mini Céilí

  • The Connemara
  • Foraer a Neaintín (Connemara Jig)
  • Inis Oirr
  • Claddagh Set

We might not get to them all but we will try.

Quarterly Rambling House

Saturday Rambling House (Bealtaine)

  • Saturday, April 29, 2023
  • 4:00 PM  10:00 PM
  • Waverly UCC (map)

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!

Classes, In Person Set Dance, Irish Set Dancing, Past Classes

2023 March | Saturday Set Dancing

maldonm

intro

Shake out those shamrocks ‘n let’s boogie!

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

$10 general, $5 students

Last Saturday Céilí ~ 4-7 ~ Live Music

week 1

WEEK 1 | Class notes

Sat. March 4, 2023

Our set of the week is: Caledonian

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.

week 2

WEEK 2 | Class notes

Sat. March. 11, 2023

Our set of the week is: Clare Plain

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.

Last Saturday Céilí

WEEK 4 | Class notes

Sat. March 25, 2023, 4-7pm

Last Saturday Céilí music by Preston Howard

  • The Caledonian
  • Seit Doire Cholmcille (Derry Set)
  • Claddagh Set
  • The Corofin Plain Set
  • The Clare Lancers set

We might not get to them all but we will try.

Classes, Past Classes

St. Practice to St. Patrick’s Challenge

maldonm

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. 

Classes, Irish Set Dancing, Past Classes

2023 Feb | Saturday Set Dancing

maldonm

intro

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.

week 2

WEEK 2 | Class notes

Sat. Feb. 11, 2023

Our set of the week is: The Cashel or The Castle

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.

week 3

WEEK 3 | Class notes

Sat. Feb. 18, 2023 (NO CLASS THIS WEEK) – we will learn this dance another time.

Our set of the week is: The Clare Myserks

We used to dance this years ago in Portland. This dance is dances in Seattle and in San Francisco. It’s a good one to know and nice and handy.

week 4

WEEK 4 | Class notes

Sat. March 25, 2023

Last Saturday Ceili

  • The Caledonian
  • Seit Doire Cholmcille (Derry Set)
  • Claddagh Set
  • The Corofin Plain Set
  • The Clare Lancers set

We covered these five dances in the month of March Tonight we will celebrate by dancing them all. All dances will be called. All are welcome.

Music Playlist