"Talking With Your Eyes" in Killarney

Last February when I was in Ireland for "The Gathering" of Irish traditional music and set dancing, I enjoyed a Wednesday night in town at the Grand Hotel, in the back, for a night of set dancing to the tunes of the Johhny Reidy Ceili Band. I think the band is great - it brings to mind the sound of Johhny Cash, particularly in this video, where the dancers are doing either a quick step [here's a quick lesson on video, or rather a "quick quick slow slow" lesson] or dancing the jive [jive dance lessons here].

View the video "Talking With Your Eyes" on YouTube.

Talking With Your Eyes

Irish Play "The Banshee of Crokey Hill"

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Acclaimed Irish Play The Banshee of Crokey Hill comes to the Regent Theatre in Arlington MA June 26th to 28th.

This exceptional piece of Irish drama – set in rural Ireland in the 1970’s - has received rave reviews in Ireland, England and the United States and has been hailed as one of the most powerful pieces of drama to come from the Emerald Isle for some time. Although the play is steeped in Irish comedy and hilarious Irish one-liners it also has a serious undertone as the soured relationship between a father and son manifests itself in most unusual circumstances. Audiences will be fascinated by the incredible plot that unfolds throughout the show.

The plot evolves around the return home of Mickey McMahon (Tommy Marren) to visit his aging parents Jack McMahon (John Duggan) and his wife Kathleen (Eileen Slevin) after 13-years living in Manchester. The purpose of his visit is to tell them he is about to get married in Manchester but sadly a black secret kept from him by his parents unfolds. [MidWest Radio 5/5/09]

There is an exceptional ‘hooley’ scene that includes a breath-taking display of brush-dancing (an old Irish dance done with a sweeping brush!) by Brian Cunningham from Connemara in County Galway and traditional musician that will warm the hearts of the audience!

Show times are Friday June 26^th and Saturday June 27^th at 8.00 pm and Sunday June 28^th at 3.00 pm. Tickets are available on line at The Regent Theatre [more info on the play, too!] or phone 781- 646 4849. Tickets are expected to sell fast so don't wait if you want to see this.

Irish Reel Step Dance Notes

One of the mementos saved from childhood is my teacher's handwritten Irish Step Dancing notes of the seven steps of the Beginner Reel (print it) including the Lead Out. I've since typed the notes and saved the file as a printable PDF document.

The new way of teaching "the sevens" isn't the "kick hop" but more of an "up" to the knee in front and down in back for the 1. If you're new to Irish step dancing, have a look at this instruction video on Expert Village.

Note: the step dancers in the photo are from Sheila Bremer's Bremer School of Irish Dance  in Salem, MA. The event was their "sunset ceili" fundraiser.

Reel - Irish Step Dance Steps

First Step
R.F.    Kick hop 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
L.F.    Kick hop 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
R.F.    Kick hop 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
L.F.    Kick hop 1-2-3
R.F.    Kick hop 1-2-3
Repeat starting with left foot.

Second Step
Kick hop 1-2-3-4 kick hop down (3 times)
Kick hop 1-2-3 Kick hop 1-2-3
Repeat starting with left foot.

Third Step
Kick hop, Kick hop, Kick hop 1-2-3 (3 times)
Kick hop 1-2-3 Kick hop 1-2-3
Repeat starting with left foot.

Fourth Step
R.F.    Kick hop, Kick hop, Kick hop1-2-3 (3 times)
L.F.    Kick hop, Kick hop, Kick hop1-2-3
R.F.    Hop 1-2-3
L.F.    Hop 1-2-3
R.F.    Kick hop, Kick hop, Kick hop-2-3
Repeat stating on the left foot.

Fifth Step
1-2, 3-4, kick hop 1, kick hop 2, kick hop 1-2-3
The 1, the 2, the 3
Toe-toe, heel toe
The 1, the 2, the 3,
And the 1-2-3 and the 1-2-3
Repeat starting with left foot.

Sixth Step
Toe-toe heel toe the 1, the 2, the 3 (3 times)
And the 1-2-3 and the 1-2-3
Repeat starting with left foot.

Seventh Step
Kick hop, kick hop, kick hop 1-2-3
Kick hop 1-2-3
The cut, the cut
Toe to heel toe the 1 the 2 the 3
Kick hop 1-2-3, kick hop 1-2-3
Repeat starting with left foot.

Lead Out
The 1 the 2 the 3 and the 4 (frontwards)
The 1 the 2 the 3 and the 4 (backwards)
Repeat.

Matt & Shannon Heaton at Club Passim

 Matt and Shannon Heaton are releasing their new CD at Club Passim (47 Palmer St in Harvard Sq, Cambridge, MA) this Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 at 8pm. The duo performs traditional Irish music and original tunes with lush instrumentation. This CD release show for their new album Lover's Well, a collection of love songs, features guest John Williams. Amanda Cavanaugh will perform an opening set. She also has a new CD.

You can hear Kieran Jordan's sean-nos dancing feet on one track on each new album. [photo from Kieran Jordan's website]