Dance Score I

Dance Score I

In the Burren a Barony with many Townlands of O’Loughlins I dance where I know where dance happens At the Old Crossroads in Barnes as Barn Dances Speeding moderate tempo rhythmic vitality with grace beauty fun & elegance . I dance where I know where dance happens a past present meeting In same space focal point At the Old Crossroads in Barns as Barn Dances In Country Town Halls where chairs are moved back Clearing an empty space for Footwork In Dance Halls that were once Cinema’s A Place where great Clare love stories began Like Kilnaboy Old Post Office Or Town Hall at Tubber with open fire blazing & Lough Bunny Crossroads where locals danced under the stars Of a Full Moon Saturday night with passions high & Skinny Dippers . Using natural body movements & trained body movements To the Tunes of Tulla Céilí Band or Steve Reich & Philip Glass reinvented Playing out “The Siege of Ennis” a circle dance Or “Suide na h-Inse” pronounced Siege of Venice a simple repetitive pattern Where the Clare couples hold hands advance & retreat Move feet to sides Hands across making a Bridge Where opposite dancers advance & retreat & pass through Arches of Hands Palms to the sky toes pointing to the earth Reflecting the rhythm of the music in movement of the feet as you go Whether your dancing the sixteen-hand reel or the eight-hand jig . The slip or hop jigs the Hornpipes, Reels or Set Dances Tapping happy feet in two-four or common time with some in six-eight time Or if your dancing the High Cauled Cap first lead around body Form double quarter chain Ladies interlace Gents interlace stamp & clap First figure makes a circle & cross third figure Ladies chain Make the finishing touches to the dance same as hand reel Whether your moving to the “Corofin Plain” or the “Clare Set” or “Mullach Half-Set” .

In the Burren a Barony with many Townlands of O’Loughlins I dance where I know where dance happens At the Old Crossroads in Barnes as Barn Dances Speeding moderate tempo rhythmic vitality with grace beauty fun & elegance . 37