This is a short film of Irish traditional step dancing in the old style as taught by James Keane and Dan Furey at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay in 1991. This style largely unknown outside of rural Ireland has now all but disappeared. It bears little resemblance to modern Irish step dance, and even less to the likes of River Dance. The old style was effortless, low to the ground, and relied on heel and toe beats to make gentle clicking sounds in time to and across the music to demonstrate the expertise of the dancer. Both James (Keane) and Dan (Furey) who lived beside the Shannon in West Clare - and who are now both sadly passed away - were adept at this style. Both James's father and grandfather were traditional step dancers. They taught both boys. There was also a travelling dancing master by the name of Barron who also held classes in the area. Once widespread throughout Ireland (and also incidently throughout Scotland), but largely unknown outside Ireland, this old elegant style has now largely died out. It is however being kept alive by some past students of James and Dan, including Michael and Celine Tubridy who have published many of James' and Dan's dances. But unpublished is the crossed-stick dance, the "Yellow Haired Goat" or "An Gabharín Buí". This dance is unique in Irish traditional step dancing. It is a little like a crossed brush (broom) dance or the English bacca-pipes. It was well known in County Clare 100 years ago. Dan was the last known traditional performer and teacher of this dance. Indeed he carried the sticks around in the boot of his old Morris Minor for many years so that he could perform it at a moment's notice. In the late 1980s he taught the dance to Emer and Ciara McCarthy, two local school girls - actually identical twins - who lived in Labasheeda, near Dan's cottage. With their kind permission they allowed this film to be made - the ony one known of this dance. The notation for the "Yellow Haired Goat" may be found at http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/yhgoat/yhgoat.htm In the film Dan plays for himself to dance the "Priest in his Boots." He also plays for the girls to dance "Single Time." Notice that the chorus step of "Single Time" is used for the 'rest' step in the "Yellow haired Goat." ChrisJBrady.This is a short film of Irish traditional step dancing in the old style as taught by James Keane and Dan Furey at the Willie Clancy Summer S...all »This is a short film of Irish traditional step dancing in the old style as taught by James Keane and Dan Furey at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay in 1991. This style largely unknown outside of rural Ireland has now all but disappeared. It bears little resemblance to modern Irish step dance, and even less to the likes of River Dance. The old style was effortless, low to the ground, and relied on heel and toe beats to make gentle clicking sounds in time to and across the music to demonstrate the expertise of the dancer. Both James (Keane) and Dan (Furey) who lived beside the Shannon in West Clare - and who are now both sadly passed away - were adept at this style. Both James's father and grandfather were traditional step dancers. They taught both boys. There was also a travelling dancing master by the name of Barron who also held classes in the area. Once widespread throughout Ireland (and also incidently throughout Scotland), but largely unknown outside Ireland, this old elegant style has now largely died out. It is however being kept alive by some past students of James and Dan, including Michael and Celine Tubridy who have published many of James' and Dan's dances. But unpublished is the crossed-stick dance, the "Yellow Haired Goat" or "An Gabharín Buí". This dance is unique in Irish traditional step dancing. It is a little like a crossed brush (broom) dance or the English bacca-pipes. It was well known in County Clare 100 years ago. Dan was the last known traditional performer and teacher of this dance. Indeed he carried the sticks around in the boot of his old Morris Minor for many years so that he could perform it at a moment's notice. In the late 1980s he taught the dance to Emer and Ciara McCarthy, two local school girls - actually identical twins - who lived in Labasheeda, near Dan's cottage. With their kind permission they allowed this film to be made - the ony one known of this dance. The notation for the "Yellow Haired Goat" may be found at http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/yhgoat/yhgoat.htm In the film Dan plays for himself to dance the "Priest in his Boots." He also plays for the girls to dance "Single Time." Notice that the chorus step of "Single Time" is used for the 'rest' step in the "Yellow haired Goat." ChrisJBrady.«
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