All of our steps are easily laid out with full, detailed video both with and without music. Rónán has taught these steps to thousands of people using these very methods - we hope you find them easy to use and we hope to have you dancing in no time.
Rónán wrote this step in the older sean-nós dance style when living on Inis Meáin in the summer of 2004. In fact he wrote it on the way over to the island while on an Aer Arann flight. Johnny O'Halloran's music was ringing in his ears and his toes and heels were silently composing. He tapped it out 'i gceart' once safely on dry land!
Part one is an introduction to the step composed in 2004 by Rónán and the first part from behind.
Part one is an introduction to the step composed in 2004 by Rónán and a breakdown of the first 2 parts.
Putting the four parts together firstly on the right leg and then on the left leg. Tip: Leave out the 'and' when dancing it on the left leg. As always, please feel free to ask questions to aid your learning experience.
Part 2 is then taught here. This is also broken down from the back.
The third and forth part are taught here. NB: The third part is a little trickier rhythmically.
All four parts danced on both the right and left from behind with music. Well done! you're getting there, practicing with music from behind, before mastering the step at full speed.
The Bofin Step in 140 characters
Rónán wrote this step in 2003 in honour of the lovely island of Inis Bofin off the coast of Cleggan, near Cliften in Connemara, on the west coast of Galway, Ireland. And taught it at the Inis Bofin Arts Festival in 2004 and subsequent festivals.
Here you will find the introduction to the step and a slow teaching of the step.
Here is a slow practice from behind with relaxed lilting music by Johnny O' Halloran the fine box player from Inish Bofin. Nearly ready to practice the Bofin Step at full speed.
The full step is then taught from behind without music.
Here you have the Bofin Step danced up to speed from the front. Keep with it and you'll have it perfected in no time!
Rónán composed this step to pay tribute to a lighter, flowing style of sean-nós dance, which many of the older gneration favoured to give expression and joy to our wonderful music. Dancer, Poet, farmer and fisherman, Dara Béag Ó Fáthartaigh, from Inis Meáin (RIP 2012) along with dancer, Irish teacher, librarian and radio presenter Maureen Mhéanaigh were the two graceful dancers who inspired this step. It was composed in the summer of 2002 while living, working and playing music and dancing on Inis Meáin.
This is the introduction to the step and the teaching of the majority of the step
Here is a practice of the Inis Meáin step from behind danced slowly to Johnny O' Halloran's music.
Here is the end of the step and a practice of the full step including the ending with music.
The Inis Meáin danced from the front, a little bit quicker to Johnny O' Halloran playing reels.
Rónán sister Maeve was passing on a step to him, a step she had learnt from a wonderful sean-nós dancer and teacher, Mick Mulkerrins in a workshop in Dublin. Maeve had somehow forgotten much of the step and much like Joe Cooley's reel, some inspiration and improvisation were needed to bring it to life again. Rónán composed this step as a result and called it Maeve's Step.
Here is an introduction to Maeve's Step and the step broken down and taught without music.
Once again the step is danced up to speed from the front and will give you a chance to practice what you've learnt. Enjoy!
Maeve's Step is now practiced slowly from behind to reels played by Johnny.
Rónán composed this step in a friend of his Martina's house in Galway, during an enjoyable sean-nós session. Thanks to Martina for her collaboration and hospitality.
Here you have the introduction to the Tí Martina Step followed by a break-down of the first 2 parts of the step.
The Tí Martina step is slowly danced in full without music to give you a chance to put together the 4 parts.
The 3rd and 4th part Tí Martina are taught here. As always, questions are very welcome and helpful.
The Tí Martina step is now practiced in full with music to bring the complete step and the music together. Enjoy!
