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ABOUT IRISH STEP DANCE History: Step dances evolved as the creation of Irish dancing masters, subsequent to their appearance in the late 18th century. Dancing masters would often travel from town to town, teaching basic dancing steps to those interested and able to pay for them. Since the basic folk dances had been done for centuries in their absence, one must suspect that their appearance was motivated by a desire to learn the "upscale" dance styles then beginning to be introduced from France. The dance masters often paraphrased these dances to fit the traditional music available and, in doing so, laid the basis for much of today's traditional Irish dance - ceili, step, and set. The dance masters taught steps, the 8-bar units out of which most Irish traditional dance is constructed. The steps involved both the movements needed for various dances and the foot percussion, called battering, used for rhythmic emphasis. Competitions were often held in which the demonstrations of steps by masters were performed on a table-top or similar small stage. In fact, dancing in a limited space was viewed as such an important aspect of the style that one of the greatest tributes to be paid to a dancer was to note that they could "dance on the top of a plate". Structure: The codification of style that defines modern step dance took place in the 1920's and provided a basis for judging of competitions. Although none can deny the great response and popularity induced by competitions, they also tend to push style into emphasizing extremes in preferred characteristics rather than overall balance of effect.The preferred style for competition step-dancing changed through the 1950's and 1960's. The availability of lorries, then small stages in halls, and then larger stages, especially in the larger cities made it possible to perform the traveling steps, circular lead-in's, sevens-and-threes, and turns we see as a characteristic of modern step-dance. Nowadays, Irish Step Dance has evolved to a powerhouse form, emphasizing athletic as well as artistic attributes. Leaps, clicks, and traveling is artfully interlaced with intricate movements and footwork. Dancers stay on the balls of their feet with their knees straight (or nearly so) at all times. Their posture is erect and unmoving without rigidity and the competitive demands are even more extreme. It's beautiful, challenging and can be enjoyed throughout most of a dancer's life. ABOUT SEAN NOS DANCE History:The Sean Nós dance style for step emphasized a close form and posture - legs kept together, no high kicks, little or no turning and, obviously, no traveling. (For more History, see above). Sean Nós dance is a form of percussive dance, most prevalent in Connemara, that emphasizes rhythm, self-expression and an integral connection to live Irish traditional music. Generally performed informally, it is mostly danced at private and semi-private gatherings, house or pub based Irish music sessions, and community celebrations such as weddings: wherever there is Irish music and a decent floor. The sean nós dancer's main aim is to add percussion (foot percussion) to the music, battering out the rhythm, and the general ethos of the dance is to engage closely with that music and the other musicians playing it, varying steps and rhythms, as they do with the tunes. Sean nós is usually danced close to the floor - even 'down into the floor' and uses just a small area to dance in. "They used to say, 'a good dancer could dance on a silver tray, and a really excellent dancer could dance on a sixpence'" (Patrick O'Dea) Half doors were frequently laid down to make a dancing platform, and dancing in kitchens and busy pubs certainly requires a certain economy of movement. Sean nós, once the basics are learned, requires relatively mild physical effort and almost no monetary outlay. It is inclusive by nature, encouraging broad participation, not least that of adults who find themselves excluded by the myriad demands of Irish competitive dancing. OUR SCHOOL AND OUR DIRECTOR We are an Irish Dance group in Springfield, IL, under the direction of Sharon Flynn Stidham. Sharon's experience in Irish Dance began long, long ago, in 1969, when her father, the first president of the Tara Association in New Brunswick, NJ, asked the now legendary Joan McNiff Cass (TCRG/ADCRG) to provide dancers for one of the club's early meetings. As the father of several daughters, he realized that this dance form would be something they would all enjoy. Sharon (and her sisters) began Irish Dance shortly thereafter. Eventually, Joan gave up her New Jersey school, and her brother, the late, great, Cyril McNiff (TCRG/ADCRG), took over. Cyril was one of the founding members of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA), and the teacher of many of the finest Irish dancers in the history of US Irish dance. Sharon blossomed under his tutelage. With the McNiff school, and with her sisters, she performed at venues as small as the annual dinner dances hosted by the Tara Association, to venues as grand as Carnegie Hall. As an individual competitor, Sharon won numerous local, regional and national awards, and qualified regularly for the Worlds competition, then held annually in Ireland. College, career and life intervened, and she put her dreams of teaching Irish Dance on the back burner for many years. Then, in 2005, she discovered Kay Brown LaGreca's Shandon School of Irish Dance in Plano, TX. Again, Sharon trained, and easily won the adult competitions she entered. However, she knew that teaching was in her blood, and decided upon moving to Springfield, IL, that it was time to open her own school. She continues to actively attend workshops given by masters such as Colin Dunne to ensure that her standards of dance remain top-notch. In 2009, she was part of the team that created the North American Irish Dance Federation, LLC, a new, strictly open platform group focused on the love and perpetuation of Irish Dance and is the chair of that organization. Come join us as we all enjoy the demands and beauty of traditional Irish Dance! |
Sharon Stidham
Achill Academy of Irish Dance
1275 Wabash Avenue
Upper North Office
Springfield IL, 62704
AchillAcademy@yahoo.com
www.achillacademy.net