Newcastle Irish Set Dancers

Newcastle Irish Set Dancers conduct classes in Irish Set dancing - the social dancing of the Irish, young and old! The group is located in Newcastle, New South Wales (Australia) and is part of the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club.

Coming Events

••• Note: events with three dots at the left of the listing have only part of the event devoted to Irish Set Dancing.

Regular classes for Newcastle Irish Set Dancers every Tuesday from 7:30-9:00 pm (or maybe a little later...) at the John Young Community Hall, Thomas Street, Cardiff.

••• Subscription Ball - Saturday, 23 August 2008 (Maitland Town Hall). The Annual Subscription Ball hosted by the Bush Music Club. (Recovery picnic at Wyndham Estate on Sunday, 24 August.)

Ceili @ The Harp, Tempe - 8pm-midnight, Saturday, 30 August. Future dates for the Harp ceilis - 25 October & 13 December. For more information contact Trish McGrath 02 9580 4865 or .

••• Central Coast Bush Dance - 7:30-11:30pm, Saturday, 13 September 2008 (East Gosford Progress Hall).

What is Irish Set Dancing?

Irish set dancing is social dancing usually in the form of square "sets" with four couples. This dance form is generally danced by adults and older children. Younger chidren (who are far more flexible and energetic usually particpate in Irish Step dancing (see below). Each dance has several figures set to traditional Irish tunes such as reels, jigs, polkas or hornpipes.

The footwork ranges from simple stepping to fast battering steps. In set dancing you usually dance with a partner, yet in many figures also dance with one or more other members of the set. Most set dances have a social figure in which each lady dances with each gent and vice versa. Traditionally, set dances were not called, although during classes there will be calling to remind the dancers of the next movement.

Irish Set Dance Classes

Newcastle Irish Set Dance classes teach Irish Set dance where the steps specific to that dance are taught along with each figure of the dance. Each figure has a walk-through and time to practice movements and steps. We repeat figures to reinforce the dance elements and come back to these dances over the coming weeks. Dances are called until the dancers have become proficient at each figure.

Weekly dance sessions are held every Tuesday evening from 7:30 - 9:00 pm. No experience is necessary, but you should be aware that the dances are energetic and require at least moderate fitness. No Partner is needed. Classes are held at the John Young Community Hall, Thomas Street, Cardiff. The cost for the regular class is $3 (or $2 concession).

Some information about other types of folk dancing in the lower Hunter area are given in the Hunter Folk Dancers' page.

Irish Step Dancing

If you are looking for Irish dancing for your children then you are probably looking for Irish Step dancing. Did you enjoy "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance"? Would you like to kick your legs like Jean Butler, stamp your feet like Michael Flatley or click your heels like Colin Dunne? From the gracious soft shoes to the stamping hard shoes. We recommend Marieclaire de Wit-Beekmans' classes:

Voyage of Irish Dance
Teacher: Marieclaire de Wit-Beekmans
T: 02 4973 4984
M: 0417 484 689
E: marieclaire@voyageofirishdance.com
W: www.voyageofirishdance.com

No previous experience is needed. Anyone from the age of 5 - including adults - is more than welcome.

Irish Set Dance Instructions and Music

Newcastle Irish Set Dancers concentrates on dancing sets, but occasionally dances some ceili dances. We have instructions for various Sets and a few ceili dances.

We also have a page discussing music for dancing the Sets and useful sources (CDs, cassettes and videos).

If you are interested in Australian Colonial, English Country, American Contra and Scottish Country dances we have instructions for some dances popular in Newcastle, Australia. We run the Hunter Folk Dancers group covering all these styles of dance. If you are interested.

Other Irish Set Dance Classes in NSW & the ACT

• Central Coast Irish Set Dancers
  • Wednesday nights, 8-9:30 pm, The Harp Irish Pub, Princes Hwy, Tempe. Contact Trish McGrath 02 9580 4865 7:45-9:15pm. CWA Hall, Pacific Street, Long Jetty, Killarney Vale (North of Gosford).Contact Maureen Houston 02 4351 1016 (h) or 0423 208 267 or .
• Sydney - The Harp Irish Set Dancers
  • Wednesday nights, 8-9:30 pm, The Harp Irish Pub, Princes Hwy, Tempe. Contact Trish McGrath 02 9580 4865 or .
• Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers
  • Thursday nights, 8-10.30pm. Kingsgrove Uniting Church Hall, 289A Kingsgrove Road, Kingsgrove. Contact Bill & Margaret Winnett 02 91506765 or .
• Canberra - Monaro Folk Society Irish Set Dance
  • Wednesday nights, 8-10 pm, 4 x 10 week terms per year (Feb. - Dec.). Canberra Senior Citizens Centre, 10 Watson St, Turner ACT 2612. Contact Paul Wayper & Kate Armstrong 02 6251 5257 (h), 0422 392 081 (m) or .
• Canberra - Set Dance Australia
• Monday nights, 7.15-9.45pm. Girl Guide Hall, Clianthus St, Lyneham Canberra. Contact Nora Stewart 0431 862 853 or .

   

Useful Irish Set Dance (and other Irish) Links

• Voyage of Irish Dance - Marieclaire de Wit-Beekmans (Irish Step Dancing in Newcastle)
• Bill Lynch's Set Dancing News
• Joseph O'Hara's Irish Set Dance study notes - an excellent detailed resource
• The Brooks Academy (instructions for a number of Sets)
• Dr. Lenette and Larry Taylor's extensive collection of notes for The Crooked River Set Dancers, northeast Ohio USA
• Scott MacHaffie's Instructions for Irish ceili dances
• Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers (who also do a lot of Set Dancing)
• Jim Vint's Set Dancing in North America (and many other places)
• Willie Clancy Summer School - Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, Ireland
• Cari Buziak @ Aon Celtic Art (Celtic Knots, e.g. the corner borders on this page)

Contact details

For more information choose one of the categories below, or contact one of the teachers:
   Arthur Kingsland and Julia Smith
      Telephone: (02) 4955 5701
      Web: <http://users.tpg.com.au/juliasm/Irish-Dance/>

Newcastle Irish Set Dancers are part of the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club.