Irish Set Dancing
Traditional Dance is a Family Affair
Traditional Irish music and dance is pre-Christian, and it's still with us today
For most people, the image of Irish Dance is Step Dance, the performance dance made popular by Riverdance, but Set Dance is the style I grew up with, joining my parents and neighbours in the old church hall on Friday nights.
At one such a dance, when I was fifteen, I met my future husband,
The Irish Traditions
The Irish carried their cultural traditions across the world during the Diaspora. Their dance was a major influence in the North American traditional percussive dance forms of buck dancing, flatfooting and tap.
My parents took me along to Square Dances too, it was a breeze to pick up after years of Set Dancing. A lot of set dances were 'called' too.
Set Dancing Family Style
I spent a lot of my childhood in church halls dancing just like this,with my parents and neighbours.. Watching these dancers makes me reach for the tissues..
A Set as I remember them
Set dancers in Killarney,County Kerry.
One evening in Melbourne, Australia, I danced in a set with a charming red-haired boy. He was a superb dancer and I fell in love with him.
I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been if that boy couldn't dance.
Demonstration of Set Dance
It's not as easy at it looks! Edwina Guckian and Michael O' Rourke show us a few basic set steps
How about you?
Did you go dancing with your parents?
Credits
All comments are appreciated. You don't have to be a Squidoo member to post yours
