Ceili of the Week: Bonfire Dance

The Bonfire Dance is ...
         --  A round dance
         --  For any number of couples [preferably not less than six]
         -- A dance traditionally danced on St. John's Eve, around a bonfire [hence the name!]

Movements of the Dance
         (a) Advance & Retire
         (b) Rings
         (c) Advance & Retire
         (d) Rings
         (e) Side-step In & Out
         (f) Link Arms
         (g) Side-step In & Out
         (h) Link Arms
         (i) The Rose
         (j) Swing and Exchange Partners

The Bonfire Dance performed by Cumann Ceili Vin, an Irish dancing group in Vienna, Austria

[Anyone else get warm fuzzies knowing how many people love Irish dance worldwide? LOVE.]

Why do I like this Ceili?
          Learning the Bonfire Dance is one of my first ceili memories as a beginning Irish dancer. I remember thinking "The Rose" was SO fun. This ceili requires dancers to stand with one hand on hip & one toe pointed during The Rose... so for some reason, that was a blast for my beginning Irish dancer, 6th grade self!
           From a teaching standpoint, this dance can be a lot of fun as well! My ceili class learned this dance on Halloween. I used it as an opportunity to talk about how the ancient Celts used to celebrate the festival of Samhain [from which our modern Halloween evolved]. My dancers also loved making a fake "bonfire" out of tutus we had at the studio, and dancing this ceili around the "flames."

Like I said in my last post, Halloween's Ceili Club was a costume class... and yes, that included the teachers! Here are Mrs. Sarah & I dressed in our costumes, a ballerina and a Lord of the Dance star! 

How was your Halloween? Did you school do anything special for the holiday? Have you danced the Bonfire Dance?

Keep Dancing,
Moira

Ceili of the Week: The Duke Reel

[Welcome to the second installment of Ceili of the Week! Hope you learn something new, or at least enjoy reading!] 

The Duke Reel is a...

         -- Round dance

         -- For three couples

         -- Dance to any reel 

Movements of the Dance

         (a) Rings

         (b) Sides

         (c) Link Arms

         (d) Interlace

         (e) Advance & Retire

               **Parts b-e make up the body of the dance, repeated after each figure**

         (f) Figures 

               1st Figure: Figure of Eight

               2nd Figure: Right & Left Chain

        (g) Finish --  Swing Around 

This adorable video of dancers from the Kelly School of Irish Dance isn't perfect, but it's so cute! According to the video, this was their second night learning the Duke Reel... not bad!

Unanswered Questions about the Duke Reel:

        --Who was the Duke?

        -- Why does he get his own reel? :)

Why do I like this Ceili?

         The Duke Reel a unique six-hand dance. Most of the ceilis for three couples I've danced have been "long dances," or ceilis with two rows of three dancers facing each other [as in the Fairy Reel]. I also think the Interlace portion of the dance [basically, a chain with no arms] is quite pretty. My favorite aspect of this ceili is the figures. More specifically, each couple has the opportunity to perform each figure. While the repetition of both figures three times [once per couple] might be boring to watch, its fun from a dancer's standpoint. I'm all about all-inclusive dances! More fun for everyone :)

This video shows The Duke Reel, performed up through the first figure. [The video doesn't say who these dancers are, so if you know, please share!] 

Have you danced the Duke Reel? What do you like about it? 

Keep Dancing,

Moira