King of the Fairies (vrs 1) - a series of videos for home study
Now available for home study.
During this series of videos Annette will teach "The King of the Fairies" - a set dance in hornpipe time, a version from May Allen of Co Antrim. The dance includes an 8 bar step and 16 bar set, Annette learned this dance from May's son, Thomas Close.
You can view Annette dancing this version of the King of the Fairies here - along with her twin on piano!
Please note, there is currently a 2nd version of the dance, from Frankie Roddy of Derry, also available for home study.
There can be many versions of a set dance, each one from a different dancing master and all danced to the same tune. Dancers regularly dance two versions of a "set dance" back to back, which is twice through the tune. The versions referenced above would compliment each other, personally, I would dance May's version first.
Part of the beauty of the Irish dance tradition is that it continues to be passed on from one generation to the next.
Levels 3-4 - for those with a good background in Irish step dancing, where many movements will already be known, or easily picked up and we will work on building repertoire.
Summary - you will receive:
- a link to download a series of videos
- accompanying notes
- background information
Video content:
Video 1 - intro and warm up
Video 2 - opening step
Video 3 - an insight to the end of the set
Video 4 - the set
Video 5 - putting it all together
Video 6 - danced at full speed
Optional Extra:
You can buy a recording of "The King of the Fairies" music in the shop, arranged for piano and performed by Annette; the sheet music for piano is also available.
A Set Dance, is a dance that has been choreographed to a particular piece of music - there can be a number of different versions of the dance - each one danced to the same music - the dance and the music take the same name. A Set dance is split into 2 parts, a step and a set, in this case the step is 8 bars long and the set is 16 bars long - the King of the Fairies set dance is in hornpipe time. Set dances can vary in length, both the step and the set.
Annette has been teaching online since May 2020 to a growing community of dancers from all around the world.
"Research has proven that dance is one of the best forms of activity for keeping the body active and the mind alert."
