Irish Dance: Intro to Sean-nós (Old Style) Dancing- (Ages 7-10)

This class is for children who are new to Connemara style Irish dancing, or students who have taken the "Irish dancing winter break camp" and would like to continue to work with the material to develop fluency and ease with the steps learned.  

Each week, children will: 

1) Say hello to the teacher, and each other, in a guided circle activity. 
2) Dance our signature warmup (that includes the basic moves of Irish dancing) to an Irish tune (played by the instructor on concertina/accordion/fiddle)
3) Work with the basic warmup elements in improvisation to live music
4) Learn an 8 bar step from the Connemara tradition
Week 1: Connemara basic
Week 2: Long basic
Week 3: Gallop shuffle
Week 4: Out & Cross Step
Week 5: Heel & Toe Step
Week 6: Create their own step (using the framework of the "heel & toe" step) 
5) Improvise using the elements of the step we have learned to live music. This section of class leaves room for children to take turns leading, or work in small groups to create steps together. 

About our learning environment: 
We are a Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum, and so all activities have joyful engagement as the primary goal. Our teachers are always listening to the "hundred languages of children" for opportunities to engage all members of the group. Children's confidence and interest will be strengthened through the teaching practice of meeting them at their level of understanding and interest, and giving them opportunities to express their ideas and understanding. 

Community development has been the aim of traditional arts for centuries, and so students will have opportunities to share and interact with the other children if they wish.   If they would rather listen and be a "good audience member" that is fine with us. There will be many opportunities to engage, and we will check in with the children throughout the class so that they can engage at their comfort level. The goal is to develop their listening ear, engage them in the stories, and give them opportunities to explore the basic dance moves in an empowering way, rather than demanding exact replication. 

No prior experience or special shoes/clothing required.  Students may enjoy wearing "noisy shoes" (shoes that will make noise on the floor as they dance) but it is not required.