Set Dancing - country dances of Ireland

Riverdance has brought Irish dance into the hearts of many. Irish Set Dancing is derived from the same roots as Set Dancing but the sets are the dance the 'common people'. Anyone can do them; I have danced with many in their 80's and seen old ones in walkers sharing their dance steps. Yet if you wish, you can dance with enough energy and foot movement to tire a triathlon champion. It is geared towards having fun while the dance like Riverdance (called Ceile or hardshoe or Step dancing) is really a performance oriented. The latter is danced on toes while the Sets are danced in the same stance as we walk . The Irish would gather after a days work at the crossroads (a place where roads from different towns came together) or in a local pub and they would share dance and song. In times gone by, their shoes were hob nail and they tapped a rhythm while they moved around the wooden floor. They still dance these dances today and if you ask for directions to where the dance, is you will be shown to the SETS. The Irish take the sets seriously and study the dances through the winter so that they can enjoy the summer round of festivals, which sweeps Ireland each year.

The dances are done in squares like American square dancing but the movements are more intricate. In Irish dance the movements you make are actually reflections of the Celtic designs you see in the Irish artwork. So we dance figure eights and interwoven circles and the movements are ancient symbols within symbols. The footwork is like clogging but it is much more subtle and it is certainly optional ,so if you feel like movement is all you want to do that is fine.

You do not need a partner and if it is acceptable to my dancers, I usually ask people to mix during my classes. I think it makes for better learning. I teach the footwork first and start with some simple steps then we go on to a dance. I think it takes time to incorporate the foot movements so I encourage people to concentrate on the floor moves and leave the feet until the tapping is mostly from the unconscious realm. Irish set dancing is a great way to experience the delightful music of Ireland through dance. It is almost impossible to stay still when you hear a reel or a jig and learning is as much fun as dancing. So come and dance the Irish country dances known as Irish Set Dances.

Jeanne Lanigan

Seattle Folk Dancing

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Last Modified: November 04, 1999