Research

These simplified céilí dances are designed for céilís with very large groups who have never done céilí dancing before.

I show the threes, side-step (sevens) and swing hold to start. In a very big group chaos usually sets in when couples have to change partners, peel off or side step into the parallel dancing line.

The following dances are designed to reduce confusion and keep the number of moves or figures to a bare minimum. The full versions can be introduced later when the dancers have become familiar with the basics.

Caoimhghin Ó Croidheáin
caoimhghin@yahoo.com
www.gaelart.net

Maggie in the Woods (Polka) (simplified)
(the Fourth Figure of THE CONNEMARA REEL SET)

All hold hands and form circle around the room with partner on gent’s right

1 All dance in and out, repeat (8 bars)

2 Gent takes hand of lady on his left and polka at home in waltz hold (8 bars)

All form circle and repeat 1 – 2

CIRCASSIAN CIRCLE (simplified)

All hold hands and form circle around the room with partner on gent’s right

1 All dance in 4 steps and out, repeat
2 Ladies dance in 4 steps, clap and out again, gents do the same but turn to face partner as they dance out
3 All swing their partners

All form circle and repeat 1 – 3

VIRGINIA REEL (simplified)

Reel. Dancers line up in lines, ladies facing gents
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

1 Everyone. Each line takes hands and advances and retires twice.

2 All turn opposite partner with right elbow hook

3 All turn opposite partner with left elbow hook

4 All turn opposite partner with both hands

5 All dos-à-dos with opposite partner

Each line takes hands and repeats 1-5

WALLS OF LIMERICK (Ballaí Luimní) [2 facing 2] (simplified)

Dancers line up as couples, two opposite two repeating down the hall.
Reel, 40 Bars. The dance is repeated with a new couple each time.
XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO
OX OX OX OX OX OX OX OX

1 Everyone advance and retire twice while holding inside hands with your partner

2 Both Ladies sidestep at the same time (sevens) to the left to change places and finish facing the opposite gent. Everyone dances two short threes. Both Gents now sidestep at the same time to the right to change places. All dance two short threes.

3 Swing. Finish facing in same direction as original position.

Repeat 1-3 with new couple

SIEGE OF ENNIS (Ionsaí na hInse) [4 facing 4] (simplified)

Dancers line up in lines of four people or two couples, facing another line of four.
OXOX
XOXO
Repeat this formation until you fill the room. Jig, 40 Bars

1 Everyone. Each line takes hands and advances and retires twice (8bars)

2 Everyone. Swing with opposite lady or gent

3 Advance and retire like the first movement and on the second advance the line facing the music raises their arms and the opposite line passes under passing right shoulders with the person opposite.

All take hands and repeat 1-3 with the new line.

THE HAYMAKERS' JIG (Baint an Fhéir) [5 facing 5] (simplified)

Five couples form two lines, ladies and gents facing each other (X = gent O = lady)

O O O O O
X X X X X
1 2 3 4 5

1 Advance and retire: the lines advance and retire twice (8 bars), all dance the Rise and Grind on the R foot then the L foot (4 bars) and the lines advance and retire again (4 bars).

2 The 1st gent and 5th lady dance into the centre, half turn each other with right elbow hook and dance back to place (4 bars). The same movement is then danced by the 5th gent and 1st lady. The same couples repeat the movement but this time half turn left elbow hook (8 bars)

3 Swing: the 1st gent and 5th lady dance into the centre, swing and dance back to place (8 bars). The same movement is then danced by the 5th gent and 1st lady (8 bars)

Each line takes hands and repeats 1-3

Simplified Céilí Dances