Clare Set

The Clare Lancers Set is one of the most popular dances in the Irish Set Dance repertoire. As the name suggests it hails from the Clare area on the mid-west coast of the Republic of Ireland. Other published instructions for this dance include Larry Lynch's "Set Dances of Ireland", Terry Moylan's "Irish Dances", Pat Murphy's "Toss the Feathers" and Tom Quinn's "Irish Dancing". [http://www.setdanceteacher.co.uk/clarelanc.htm Joe O'Hara] , the [http://users.tpg.com.au/juliasm/Irish-Dance/instructions/Clare-Lancers-Set.html Newcastle Irish Set Dancers] and the [http://ialef.org/3d.html Irish-American Lobby Education] have versions this set online.

The following instructions for the [http://users.tpg.com.au/juliasm/Irish-Dance/instructions/Clare-Lancers-Set.html Clare Lancers Set] dance can also be found on the [http://users.tpg.com.au/juliasm/Irish-Dance/ Newcastle Irish Set Dancers] ' website along with instructions for many more Irish Set Dances. They were copied here by the author of that page, Arthur Kingsland.

Formation

Square Set of four couples, Gents on the left of their partners. 1st Top Couple have their backs to the band, with 2nd Top Couple opposite them. 1st Side Couple are on the left of 1st Top Couple (when facing into the set) and 2nd Side Couple are opposite them (to the right of 1st Tops).

teps

Traditionally the figures are danced with smooth flowing steps pushing flat along the floor and minimal heel lift.

Dance Instructions

Figure 1: Reels 160 bars

Figure 4: Reels 192 bars

Figure 5: Reels 192 bars

In this dance at the end of the Chain the Couples line up forming a "Column" of 8 dancers with each Lady in front of her Partner in the following order: 1st the Dancing Couple / 2nd the Couple on their left / 3rd the Couple on their right / 4th the Couple opposite - All facing out from the Dancing Couples place.

Notes

Big Christmas (Basket):
*Place your Right arm around the waist of the person on your right at the level of the small of the back.
*Place your Left hand over the right arm of the person on your left clasping the right wrist of the next person.
*To Basket left put your right foot in the centre with the knee bent slightly. In effect you will hop on this foot pushing with the other foot placed behind.
*To Basket right reverse the feet.

References

*Lynch, Larry (1991). "Set Dances of Ireland: Tradition and Evolution". California: Séadna Books.
*Moylan, Terry (1985). "Irish Dances". Dublin: Na Píobaairí Uilleann. 13-18.
*Murphy, Pat (1995). "Toss the Feathers". Cork: Mercier Press. 90-92.
*Quinn, Tom (1977). "Irish Dancing". Glasgow: Harper Collins. 108-113.

Web versions of this set

* [http://www.setdanceteacher.co.uk/clarelanc.htm Joe O'Hara's] Irish Set Dancing website
* [http://users.tpg.com.au/juliasm/Irish-Dance/instructions/Clare-Lancers-Set.html Arthur Kingsland's] "Newcastle Irish Set Dancers" website
* [http://ialef.org/3d.html Irish-American Lobby Education] website.