Toronto - Dance Weekend (with a twist!)

25-27 May 2018, Dance all Weekend!

Our friends in the Irish community in Toronto will be having a whole weekend of dancing, and great craic to be had!

Where: Royal Canadian Legion, Todmorden Branch 10,   1083 Pape Ave, East York, ON M4K 3W7

• The venue has wooden floor, 
• air conditioning, 
• separate bar and lounge, 
• easy parking, 
• TTC accessible.

https://www.opendoorceilitoronto.com/set-dance-teacher

The dance teachers will be Kevin and Carol Monahan ("SetsMad"), who will be in Toronto for the first time. They have been set dancing for more than 20 years.They teach all over Europe, and as on occasion in the US as guest of the Milwaukee Set dancers.

The bands playing at the event are Cabbagetown Ceili Band and North Atlantic Drift with Ena O'Brien. 


Weekend Schedule
Friday 25 May:
8PM - Midnight, Welcome ceili


Saturday 26 May:
Morning workshop, 10AM - 12PM
Afternoon Workshop, 2PM - 4PM
Ceili, 8PM - Midnight


Sunday 27 May:
Workshop, 1PM - 2PM
Farewell Ceili, 2PM - 5PM  
(a Sunday night seisiun at a local pub after the ceili)

Event Costs:
Whole weekend package, Can$110

Individual Events:
Friday welcome ceili, Can$25
Saturday morning workshop, Can$20
Saturday afternoon workshop, Can$20
Saturday ceili, Can$25
Sunday mini package, Can$25
Sunday workshop, Can$15
Sunday farewell ceili, Can$15

Registration available online: https://www.opendoorceilitoronto.com/dancer-reg-form-2017 

Contact Geraldine at 416.573.1205 or Mary 905.330.7972 or at opendoorceilis@gmail.com


This even is made possible in part with a grant for the Irish Cultural Society of Toronto.

Everyone is welcome!!!

St. Patrick's Day 2018 Céili Dance List and Schedule

Ottawa Irish Arts 

Elaíona Gaelacha Ottabha

St. Patrick's Day Céili Dance List and Schedule, 17 March  2018

(Remember, you do not need to know how to dance nor need to have a dancing partner. Everyone is welcome!)

Click on a dance title for videos to see how it is danced.

7:20 - 7:30PM      Workshop
                               Join us in the first half hour of the evening for a short 
                               tutorial on steps, holds, and terminology that will have 
                               you dancing your way through the evening with  
                               confidence. 
                                Gay Gordon (March)

7:30 - 8:15PM       Antrim Square (Set dance)

                                  Figure 1: Wheel and turn

                                  Figure 2: House and slide
                                  Figure 3: Slide and change   

                             Free Waltz (Waltz)   
                        
8:15 - 8:45PM       Entertainment and 1st Intermission
                              Trillium School of Irish Dance
                               Students from Trillium will perform.   

8:45 - 9:30PM       Haymaker's Jig (Jig)
                        
                             Aran (Set Dance)
                                 Figure 1: Grand Chain
                                 Figure 2: Dance around opposites
                                 Figure 3: Gents change over
                        
                            Waltz Cotillion

                            2-Hand Reel (Reel)
                                                    
9:30 - 10:00         2nd Intermission 
                             Join us for a cup of tea and freshly baked Irish Soda bread. 
                             Be sure to have your admission ticket handy for the Door 
                             Prize draw. There will be a 50/50 Draw.

10:00 - 10:30PM  Bonfire Dance (Reel) 

                            Clare Lancers (Set Dance)
                            Each figure starts with a two-handed lead around, 
                            turning the lady under to swing.
                            Each figure ends with a full around-the-house.
                                  Figure 1: Square the House
                                  Figure 2: House and Turn the Lady
                                  Figure 3: Big Wheels and Big Christmas Tree
                                  Figure 4: Small Wheels and Small Christmas Tree
                                  Figure 5: Long Chain and Line Ups

Note: As the final dance of the evening, the Clare Lancers will not be called. Given that this dance is not called and that all figures will, as it is traditional, be danced consecutively, more experienced dancers will be invited to form a set and show off their steps, but as always, all dancers are welcome to the floor.


Here are some helpful dance guidelines:Irish Set (and Ceili) Dance Etiquette
Check our dance page for more information on the dances called at our céilis.

Rhythm of the Dance - Irish month

Irish Month in Ottawa!

We hope you’ve all been enjoying Irish Week in Ottawa! There are still a number of exciting events coming up but if you’re not quite ready for it to end this coming weekend, there’s one more event on Wednesday, 21 March, that you won’t want to miss! 

Centerpoint

Rhythm of the Dance celebrates the rich cultural history of Ireland – its traditions of music, dance, and song – in a live show that brings together on stage world champion dancers, a traditional Irish band, and the Young Irish Tenors. 

–– “What sets Rhythm of the Dance apart from Riverdance is that we tend to be a bit more traditional and purist and we rely less on the technical support than other shows do, although we do carry quite a lavish production.” – Kieran Cavanagh, Rhythm of the Dance Producer. 

This two-hour incredible live show tells the story of the Irish throughout history and blends contemporary technology with traditional music and dance. Cavanagh promises audience members that they “will leave the theatre feeling that they have been on a trip around Ireland and [with] a strong impression of our culture and our music.” 

The show is produced by the National Dance Company of Ireland and is internationally rated as one of the most popular and busiest Irish step dance shows in the world. Important traditional elements of Irish culture and music like stepdance, the male tenor voice, and the blend of instruments from an Irish band will feature throughout the telling of this epic tale. 

Rhythm of the Dance will be in Ottawa for one night only at Centrepointe Theatre – don’t miss your chance to enjoy the passion, energy, and rhythm on Wednesday, 21 March, at 8pm! There are still tickets available to purchase online. Don’t miss out – we’ll see you there!