Today's dance session is inspired by moves from Ireland - straight posture and arms by the side.
3. Irish dance
This dance session focuses on some of the main characteristics of traditional Irish dancing: posture - upright with straight back, arms down by the sides; footwork - light, energetic steps, lifting knees high; and rhythm - responding appropriately and moving with the music. The dance uses movements experienced in the English folk dance programmes during the first half of the term, but with specific steps from the Irish folk tradition.
Resources
Download audio
Download the audio for this dance session as an mp3 file.
Teacher's Notes
Guidance on using the dance sessions in this unit with your group (pdf)
Lesson summary
- Skipping with upright posture and high knees.
- Learning the traditional swap step.
- Circle left - holding hands, skipping round in a circle.
- Circle right - as above.
- Swap step into middle of circle, and back out again.
- Stamp and clap on the spot.
- The whole dance.
More from this series
1. African dance. audio
Pupils learn simple steps from traditional dances from Senegal and The Gambia in Africa.
2. Greek dance. audio
Pupils explore simple steps from traditional Greek dances - in particular the Greek circle dance called the Khastorias.
4. Indian dance. audio
The final session focuses on dance steps from India - in particular from the northern state of Rajasthan.
