Workshops Offered by Maldon Meehan
Maldon Meehan offers a range of workshops, performances, lectures, and residencies tailored to suit the venue, age group, and/or experience level. These workshops are perfect for anyone interested in exploring the world of traditional Irish dance.
IRISH SEAN-NÓS DANCE
Sean-nós literally means “old-style” and is a highly improvisational, low-to-the-ground, rhythmic dance form. Unlike Irish step dancers, sean-nós dancers swing their hips and use their arms to express the music. Traditionally, dancers performed solo on the hardwood of a half door or the round top of a barrel, which meant their steps were confined to a small space. In sean-nós dance, the dancer is deeply connected to the music, interpreting and responding to the sounds.
IRISH BRUSH DANCE
In this workshop, we’ll cover the basics of the traditional Irish brush dance, which is done using a brush or broom. The brush dance is steeped in history, one story being that it was performed by the Irish Travelers when they went from house to house selling items like brushes and brooms. It is said that they would perform the dance as a way to display their wares.
IRISH SET DANCING
Explore the most popular form of traditional social dancing in Ireland today. Sets are danced in a square formation and feature intricate, rhythmic footwork. In this workshop, we’ll learn to dance to reels, jigs, slides, polkas, and hornpipes.
BATTERING STEPS for SET DANCING
Learn battering steps for a variety of dance styles, including reels, jigs, polkas, slides, and hornpipes. We will cover styles from Clare, Connemara, and more, focusing on how these steps are applied within the context of Irish set dancing.
PERCUSSIVE CHOREOGRAPHY
This workshop will focus on improvisation, rhythmic footwork, and performance techniques, drawing inspiration from a wide range of styles including Cape Breton dance, Québécois, American Clogging, Sean-nós Dance, Irish Old Style Step Dance, and Waltz Clog. Please bring smooth leather-soled shoes to participate.
LECTURE & DEMO: THE HISTORY OF IRISH DANCE
Dive into the rich history of Irish dance, from its earliest records to the present. This lecture will cover various dance genres, including Céilí dance, Set Dance, Sean-nós dance, Old-style Traditional, Step Dance, and even the phenomenon of Riverdance. The session will include video material, handouts, live demonstrations, and performances to give you a thorough understanding of Irish dance history.