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.
••• Central Coast Bush Dance - 7:30-11:30pm, Saturday, 14 June 2008 (East Gosford Progress Hall). Monthly bush dance featuring Fair Dinkum.
Ceili @ The Harp, Tempe - 8pm-midnight, Saturday, 28 June. Future dates for the Harp ceilis - 30 August, 25 October, 13 December. For more information contact Trish McGrath 02 9580 4865 or .
••• Central Coast Bush Dance - 7:30-11:30pm, Saturday, 12 July 2008 (East Gosford Progress Hall). Monthly bush dance featuring Fair Dinkum.
••• 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.)
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.
