Ceili and Set Dancing -- How and Why Are they Different?

Many beginning dancers in our group are confused about the different kinds of dances we do -- ceili, sets and two-hands. Here is a very brief explanation. Please refer to the web sites provided for many interesting details.

True ceili dances are from the official book called "Ar Rince Foirne" published by the Irish Dance Commission (An Commisiun) in Dublin. They use step dancing moves (7's, 3's, rise and grind jig, etc.). Arms are held at the sides, unless holding the person's hand next to you. Ideally, heels are up and you are on your toes! However that's not always practical. Ceili dancing was taught by qualified teachers or int he earlier days, as late as the 1900's, the dancing master. Some of the dances have been danced for hundreds of years, but most are around 100 to 150 years old. They are danced in squares of couples, lines, circles or longways sets. They range from the simpler dances, (Walls of Limerick, Harvest Time Jib) to the more challenging (High Cauled Cap, Trip to the Cottage).

Set dances have been danced in Ireland for about 200 years. They descended from the French quadrilles which were brought to Ireland by the British army and the landlords. Irish people adapted them to their own style, adding their own steps and music. Earlier, each area in Ireland had their own set dance and did JUST that dance! Sets were informally learned in the home with everyone dancing, including children. In set dancing heels are down and complicated battering is done by the experts, although it's perfectly acceptable to dance without the battering. Sets are almost always danced in squares of four couples with four to six figures. It has become extremely popular again in Ireland, the States and Europe with the revival beginning in 1978.

Two-hand Dances originated in Donegal where many of the people had emigrated from Scotland. They have again become very popular with many workshops in Ireland and here, being devoted to just the two-hand dances.

We do not do Sean nos dancing, but many of us saw Aidan Vaughan perform a fantastic reel at the Glenside Ceili in May. Sean nos originated in Connemara. Feet are low to the ground, are rhythmic, improvisation is encouraged. Workshops and lessons are given in many areas of the United States and Ireland. Sean nos means "old style" and it also refers to that style of solo, unaccompanied singing in the Irish language.

Many thanks to the following websites for their help preparing this article:

Bill Lynch's VERY complete web site on set dancing and some ceili at www.setdancingnews.net/ It lists all weekly classes, ceilis with live music, workshops, festivals and teachers from all over the world. Of particular interest are his article "The Joy of Sets" and also the pictures.

www.setdanceteacher.co.uk/ is another great site by Joe O'Hara. This lists 81 set dances with all of their directions and 11 of the ceili (figure) dances that we dance. Very informative are the figure and set dance glossaries which explain all of the terms referring to calls of ceili and set dances (e.g. house, show the lady, quarterhouse, wheelbarrow).

www.ceilidancing.com/short.htm is a short history of ceili dancing. This gives a detailed history of ceili dancing -- much more than is explained here.