Comhaltas Winnipeg Irish Setdancing Group
How We Got Started
The Winnipeg set dancing group got started as the result of the initiative of the Coish family, Carol Ann, Robert and Rebecca. When they were living in Co. Antrim, for two years, they gave Irish set dancing a try and really enjoyed it (see below for more on their time in Ireland). At the end of their two years they returned to Winnipeg with set dancing CDs and instructions, eager to start a group here.
The 2004 Winnipeg Irish Fest brought in Maureen Mulvey O'Leary from Toronto to teach Irish set dancing. Following these workshops the Coishes started hosting set dancing classes at their home. They were joined by other friends and some international folk dancers. Jeremy Hull, an international folk dance teacher, has been helping with teaching and calling the dances. By 2006 the group needed more space and has been meeting at Riverview Elementary School (see below).
Irish Set Dancing
Irish set dancing is a traditional form of dancing that developed in Ireland in the 1800s. It is done in square sets of four couples to lively Irish reels, jigs, polkas, slides and hornpipes. The figures were originally based on French quadrilles, but over time different towns and regions developed their own unique figures. New dancers can participate in the dances right away, and over time they become more and more skilled at the various figures and steps. We generally work on a set for a number of weeks until we know it well enough to dance it through without stopping. Each set consists of several figures and may take 15 minutes to dance. The sets we know best include the Clare Lancers the Plain Set, the Connemara Set, the Castle Set, the Derrada Set, the Mazurka, and the Sliabh Luachra Set.
We also enjoy ceili dancing occasionally. These dances follow a different tradition and are a bit more like Irish step dancing. Still they are dances intended for everyone and dances like the Siege of Ennis, Haymakers Jig, the Fairy Reel, the Walls of Limerick and the Sweets of May are fun to do and are often called at dance parties or ceilis.
Workshops and Ceilis
In addition to dance workshops at some of the Winnipeg Irish Festivals workshops we have organized several Irish set dancing workshops and ceilis. In 2005 we put on a fund-raising ceili where we called dances for everyone to participate in. In 2006 and 2007 we had a guest teacher, Maureen O’Leary from Toronto lead us in weekend workshops, and in 2009 we had Tim McAndrew from St. Paul, Minnesota for another weekend workshop. Our guest teachers have helped us learn new dances, improve our dancing style, and learn some of the “battering” steps that are used for various sets.
Performances
We enjoy performing our sets on occasion, and these performances are always fun and help motivate us to continually improve our dancing. Over the years we have performed at various events and venues including the Winnipeg Irish Festival, at the Irish Club, at Festival du Voyageur with the band Cruithne, at St. Ambroise for their Canada Day festival, and at several seniors’ residences in Winnipeg, sometimes as part of a program put on by the Comhaltas traditional musicians. For information on booking our group to perform please call 487-0756.
Where We Dance
We meet on most Mondays during the school year from 7:30-9:30 pm at Riverview School, 253 Maplewood Ave in the downstairs multi-purpose room. There is no charge to attend. It is best to check before coming since dancing may be cancelled if it is a school holiday, or if it conflicts with school events or because we have a performance that night. We start dancing some time in September, and stop some time in June. For directions or information call 487-0756 and ask for Carol Ann, Robert or Rebecca Coish.
Riverview Elementary School
253 Maplewood Ave
Corner of Maplewood & Casey
Two blocks east of Osborne St
(in the Multi-purpose Room )
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Everyone welcome and no experience necessary!
After the workshop with Maureen Mulvey/O'Leary at Irish Fest 2004, my parents, Jeremy Hull, and I decided to start a setdancing group in Winnipeg. We've been meeting at our house every second week since the fall of 2004 to go over sets and to generally have fun with setdancing! We found that more room was needed and now pratice at Riverview Elementary School. We've been working a lot on the "Clare Lancers Set" as well as on the "Plain Set" and the "Kerry Set".
While we (the Coish Family) were living in Co. Antrim, for two years, we decided to try Irish setdancing. It was offered in Larne, by an instructor from the East Antrim Institute, about half an hour away from Carrickfergus, where we were living. We had so much fun going to the classes (as well as having a lovely time driving up the beautiful Antrim Coast), and we also went to a weekend long workshop in Co. Fermanagh. There was a small blizzard that weekend, and our friends in the group were worried that we might have trouble driving in the storm. Once we arrived at the hotel, we told them that we felt right at home driving through a snow storm!
We also went to setdancing ceilis around Co. Antrim, in Glenarm and Cushendall. The Glens of Antrim Comhaltas had ceilis for St. Patrick's Day, their annual dinner, and other celebrations, and they were always very encouraging of us to try setdancing with their group. When we left Co. Antrim, our teacher, Cathy (or Kitsy as she was known locally!) and the setdancing group in Larne gave us a large CD collection of setdancing music as well as the printed notation for many sets. The Comhaltas group also gave us a video demonstrating setdancing. When we returned to Winnipeg, we were keen to start setdancing again, and when we met with Jeremy Hull, who had a lot of experience with dancing, teaching, and calling for International Folk dancing, we decided to start a group here.
If you need directions or if you have any questions, call 487-0756.
(Ask for Carol Ann, Robert or Rebecca Coish)
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Watch your step !
- Gaelic Adage -
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