Set dances, sometimes called "country sets", are a popular form of folk dancing in Ireland. Set dances are based on quadrilles. The latter were court dances which were transformed by the Irish into a unique folk dance of the Irish rural communities. A combination of Céilí dance and Rock and Roll in the 1950s caused the popularity set dances to fade. However, in the 1980s, a revival started and many sets that have not been done for forty years or more are being recovered and danced again. Folk dancers in Prague Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances, mostly of European origin, that tend to share the following attributes: They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier (or are, in any case, not currently copyrighted); Their performance is... for the equestrian form of quadrille, see Quadrille (dressage) Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. ... Historical dances are dances that reenact what was danced in times long past, together with music and costumes. ... Céilí (Irish reformed spelling), Cèilidh (Scottish reformed spelling), or Céilidh (older spelling in both languages), pronounced in either case, is the traditional Gaelic social dance in Ireland and Scotland. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Set

To start, four couples are arranged in a square to dance with each couple being in the middle of the sides of the square. Both the eight dancers in the group and the dance itself are called a "set". The dance is a sequence of several dance figures, which usually have a common theme or structure. The figures usually begin and end with repeated parts that everyone dances, and then during the figure each couple or pair of couples will dance separately. In the set, the couple with their backs to the band are traditionally named "First Tops" with "Second Tops" facing them. The couple on First Tops left hand side is called "First Sides" with "Second Sides" facing. Usually the First Tops are the first to dance, with some sets having First Sides and then Second Tops going next and some having Second Tops and then the First Sides. Second Sides is almost always the last couple to dance, and is therefore a good place for beginners to start, as they get more time to watch the demonstrations of the figure that the other couples give. Dance moves or Dance steps, are the building blocks of many dances. ...

Shramore Set, 2^nd Figure with Céilí-hold

Set dances from a particular region usually have similar elements. For instance, sets from the Connemara region (such as the Connemara Reel Set, the South Galway Reel Set and the Claddagh Set) have the First Sides on the right of the First Tops, and sets from the Clare region often involve footwork similar to Step Dance or Sean Nós called battering. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Connemara (Irish Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara (meaning: descendants of Con Mhac, of the sea), is a district in the west of Ireland (County Galway). ... The Claddagh on a cold January day The Claddagh was once a fishing village located just outside the walls of Galway city where the Corrib River meets Galway Bay. ... Clare can refer to: Places County Clare, one of the 32 counties of Ireland. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Sean nós is a highly-ornamented style of solo, unaccompanied singing in the Irish tradition. ...

Set dance differs from square dance and round dance in that it does not require a caller: the sequence of figures is predefined by the name of the set. In Ireland it is traditional for dances to be uncalled - that is, done with no calling with all dancers already knowing the instructions for the set. However, in the rest of the world a caller is usually required to give instructions as the dance progresses, for those people who are not yet familiar with the set. Square dance is often used as a general term for modern Western square dance. ... There are two distinct dance categories called Round Dance. ... Caller is a person that calls dance figures in round dances, line dances, square dances, contra dances, etc. ...

See also

List of Irish Set Dancing Champions This page lists some of those who have won the senior championships at the Fleadh Cheoil since its founding in 1951 by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. ...

References

• Toss the Feathers - Irish Set Dancing Pat Murphy, Mercier Press ISBN 1-85635-115-7
• The Flowing Tide: More Irish Set Dancing Pat Murphy, Mercier Press ISBN 1-85635-308-7
• A Handbook of Irish Dances, 5. Edition, J. G. O' Keeffe, Art O' Brien, Gill & Son Ltd., (1934)[1]
• The Story of Irish Dancing Helen Brennan, Mount Eagle Publications Ltd., 1999 ISBN 0 86322 244 7

External links

• Set Dancing And Sean Nos Dancing website by Gerard Butler
• Set Dancing News
• Study Notes for 80 Sets and 11 Figure Dances