Teacher - Eva Gordon has been studying Scottish Gaelic in books, online and via human interaction for the past 16 years.  She has attended a number of workshops sponsored by ACGA (An Comunn Gàidhealach America/Gaelic Society of America) at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia, and at the Gaelic College, St. Ann’s, Cape Breton, N. S. A member of ACGA , she was the winner of ACGA's Distance Mòd Prose Competition (advanced) in 2002, ACGA’s Advanced Gaelic Scholarship, 2005, and winner of the Great Lakes Gaelic Mòd 2005.  An active member of The Celtic Arts Center, she sings in the An Cór Ceilteach, the Center's choir.

Instructors Linda Savage & Yvonne Fleury, have been set dancing since 2000 and were original members of the Los Angeles Irish Set Dancers under the direction of Michael Patrick Breen. As members of that group they have both have performed at many festivals and fairs. They have been to the Willie Clancy Festival in Milltown Malbay, County Clare in Ireland were they participated in advanced set dancing workshops. Now they are eager to share their love of set dancing with others.

Set dancing is a form of social dancing which has been popular in Ireland for over 150 years. Sets are danced by four couples in a square, and usually consist of three to six figures. They are descended from the French quadrilles, which were brought to Ireland by the British army in the nineteenth century. Irish dancers adapted the figures to their own music and steps to form dances with great drive and enjoyment. The music these figures are usually danced to include reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas and the occasional fling. Set dancing is very popular today in Ireland and in Irish communities throughout the world. In fact, set dancing is much more popular in Ireland than ceili dancing. It is great fun for people of all ages and fitness levels. Irish set dance style is a low, gliding, flat-to-the floor percussive dancing. There are many different styles, from basic steps to very elaborately embellished steps. Develop your own style and have fun!

Technique will be taught as you go along.  Common movements in many sets that will be taught include: lead-around, swing your partner, advance and retire, body, ladies chain, round-the-house, dance at home, etc. Dances will be "called" with step-by-step instruction and walk-through before dancing to music. For more details about which dances you'll learn, please take a look at the workshop's flyer here.

Students should wear comfortable lightweight clothing and comfortable shoes. Step dancing shoes not required. Shoes with leather soles work well.

Sorry, but online tuition payments are not available for this class.
Please make arrangements with the instructor at class.