ILLINOIS MUSIC EDUCATORS CONFERENCE Irish Dance in the Classroom. Basic Steps:

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1 Irish Dance in the Classroom Basic Steps: Preparation: 1. Using a hand drum, play a galloping rhythm. Ask S to switch between using their dominant foot and their non-dominant foot whenever they feel like it. Give them ample time to experience the feeling of switch between the two.. Continue to play the galloping rhythm on the hand drum, only this time you will indicate when to switch lead foot. Start in groups of. As students become comfortable with s, switch to s and eventually to s. 3. Keeping that footwork, change the rhythm. Instead of using a dotted gallop rhythm oq modify it to an even rhythm nq Promenade Step: n n n n n n n n Weight on: R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L 1 Irish Dance Hop hop hop hop Practice this step forward and backward, always start with the right foot. 7s and 3s: 7s: Jump both feet simultaneously (right in front) and then side step (r) 3 (l) (r) 5 (l) 6 (r) 7 (l). On the even counts your feet are apart and the odds will bring your feet together. You should end with your right in front and your feet together. 3s Jump and switch your feet (left in front) and then take steps in place. Do not switch your feet or travel anywhere just pick them up and put them back down. Left or front foot first and then your back or right foot (jump, front back). Repeat that jump, putting right in front (jump, front back) The whole 7s and 3s will sound like this: Jump,, 3,, 5, 6, 7, Switch, Front, Back, Switch, Front, back Front/moving foot. R. R L R L R L L L R R R L Always start on the right foot: Right in front and move to right. Reverse the move with your left in front, moving left. Jump,, 3,, 5, 6, 7, Switch, Front, Back, Switch, Front, back Front/moving foot. L L R L R L R R R L L L R

2 Bridge of Athlone This is a long dance done in jig time. This has been slightly modified from other versions. O O O O X X X X A1) All All Advance & Retire (promenade step) Advance, Ladies make arch, all pass through, turn around & face your partner A) All Advance & Retire (promenade step) Advance, Gents make arch, all pass through, turn around & face your partner B) Tops Sidestep (7s & 3s) Down the center (to gent s right) with right hands Sidestep (7s & 3s) Home C) Tops Cast off & Lead line around (everyone makes a two handed arch with their partner with they are back in their home position) D) Tops Lady moves up set under arch & gent on outside Gent moves down the set up the arch & lady on outside Repeat A through D with a new Top couple 16 Irish Dance

3 Siege of Ennis Progressive long dance in jig or reel time. Two couples facing two couples. O X O X X O X O A) All Advance & Retire twice (promenade step) B1) All B) All C) Ends in the center D1) All D) All Sidestep (7s &3s) with partner only. Couple moving left goes in front of couple moving right. Sidestep (7s & 3s) Home Swing with the opposite person (right hands) Right & Left hand across (star) Advance & Retire Advance & pass through turn in place to repeat Repeat A through D until the music stops Walls of Limerick Progressive long dance done in reel time. One couple facing another couple. X O X O O X O X A) All Advance & Retire twice (promenade step) B1) Ladies Sidestep (7s) left diagonally across the set Turn into the other lady s place (3s) B) Gents Sidestep (7s) right diagonally across the set Turn into the other gent s place (3s) C) All Sidestep (7s& 3s) away from partner holding opposite person s right hand in your right hand Sidestep (7s & 3s) Home D) All Round the House & face new couple Repeat A through D until the music stops 3 Irish Dance

4 Round the House Face your partner, lady gives crossed hands (palms down) and gent gives uncrossed hands (palms up) with the elbows bent sharply upward. Gent puts the weigh on the Right foot while lady puts the weight on the Left foot. Giving only the gent s instruction, the lady moves in opposite direction and uses the opposite foot. Round the house is done as follows: Turn forward (R) (L)- 3 (R) 1 bar Turn backward (L) (R) 3(L) 1 bar As you turn in clockwise motion, you should also move one position around the set in an anti-clockwise direction Repeat these steps three times (6 bars) and God willing you should end up back where you started. Irish Dance

5 Fairy Reel This is a progressive long dance done in reel time. Two ladies and one get in a line with the gent in the middle. O X O O X O A1) All Advance & Retire (promenade step) A) All Advance, all take hands and make a ring B) All Sidestep (7s & 3s) Anti-clockwise & Home C1) All Advance & Retire (promenade step) C) All Advance, all take hands and make a ring D) All Sidestep (7s & 3s) Clockwise & Home Gent faces the lady on his right during last bars (right hands) E1) All Sidestep (7s& 3s) to the lady s right & Home (Lady on the left of the line also Sidesteps individually to her right) Gent faces the lady on his left during last bars (left hands) E) All Sidestep (7s & 3s) to the lady s left & Home (lady on the right of the line also Sidesteps individually to her left) F) Gents Circle Right & Left arms G) Gents Give right hand to the lady on the right of the line & turn. Give left hand to the lady on the left of the line & turn. Give right hand to the lady on the right of the line & turn. H) Ladies Gents Diamonds and Squares Sidestep (7s & 3s) four times in the shape of a square. The lady on the left of the line always dancing to the right, behind the other lady, makes a quarter turn anti-clockwise while dancing the 3s. The lady on the right of the line always dancing to the left, in front of the other lady, makes a quarter turn clockwise while dancing the 3s. Sidestep (7s & 3s) to the Right, four times, in the shape of a diamond. Always dancing in front of the ladies, making a quarter turn anti-clockwise while dancing the 3s. All continue to Home position. 5 Irish Dance

6 I) All J1) All J) All Take hands along the line. Gents raise right hand, lady on left of the line goes under the arch & gent follows her under the arch. Gents raise left hand, lady on the right goes under the arch & gent follows her under the arch. Gents raise right hand, lady on left goes under the arch & gent follows her under. Advance & Retire Advance (release hands) & pass through to meet new couple Repeat A through J until the music stops. Resources: The Internet! There are directions for most dances. YouTube is a great resource to see something if you don t understand the directions. Ar Rinci Foirne. Thirty Popular Figure Dances. An Coimisium le Rinci Gaelacha, 199. Westley, Kevin B. Westley School of Irish Dancing. Ceili, Country Set & Hand Dance Instruction Booklet. New York: Westley School of Irish Dance, Irish Dance