St. Helens Irish Ceili Class Glasgow

Dancing for Fun

Here are some of the easier dances.
We also do High caul cap
                  Gates of Derry
                  16 hand Reel
                  8 Hand Jig
and many more


Note; X stands for gent and O stands for lady
 
Dance 1
  • The Walls of Limerick - a progressive dance for couples danced to reel-time.
  • An interesting historical note on this dance is that it was collected from an old Irish man resident in Glasgow at the turn of the last Century.
  1. Advance and retire (8 bars)                      O      X
  2. Half right and left (8 bars)
  3. Dance with opposite (8 bars)                     X      O
  4. Dance around (8 bars)                             Formation
Dance 2
  • The Four Hand Reel - a dance for groups of four.
  1. Lead around (16 bars)
  2. The Body                                                  O      X
        (i)  The Square (16 bars)                             X      O
       (ii)  Four Sevens (8 bars)                           Formation
      (iii)  Hands Across (8 bars)
      (iv)  Down the centre (8 bars)
       (v)  Right and left chain (8 bars)
 
  3.  First figure:  Figure of 8 and rings of three (32 bars)
 
  4.  The Body (repeated) 
 
  5.  Second figure:  Ladies chain (16 bars)
 
  6.  The Body (repeated) 
 
  7.  Lead around to finish (16 bars)
 
 
Dance 3
  • The Eight Hand Reel - a dance for groups of eight.
  1. Lead around (16 bars)
  2. The Body                                                  O      X
        (i)  Extended sides (16 bars)              X                       O             
       (ii)  Skip across (32 bars)                          
      (iii)  Return chain (16 bars)                 O                       X         
                                          
                                                                        X      O
                                                                       Formation
 
3.   First figure:  Advance and retire (16 bars)
 
4.   The Body (repeated)
 
5.   Second figure:  Ladies chain (16 bars)
 
6.   The Body (repeated)
 
7.   40 bar finish 
 
 
Dance 4
  • The Glencar Reel- a dance for six people.
  1. Advance and retire (8 bars)
  2. Ring (8 bars)
  3. Sidestep through (8 bars)
  4. Figure of Eight (8 bars)                           O       O       O
  5. Double Figure of Eight (8 bars)                X       X        X
  6. The Waves (8 bars)                                     Formation
  7. Full Chain (8 bars)