Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Not bad for a beginner book
I bought the book thinking it was a bit more than it is.Wherever there aren't notes, there are pictures to color...Definitely for children.However it did have a lot of famous songs such as "Danny Boy" and"When Irish Eyes are Smiling."If you are looking for anintroduction to celtic music and you are at a beginner level of piano, thisbook is great.However, you get what you pay for... ... Read more

Book Description
From early accounts of dance customs in medieval Ireland to the present, Brennan offers an authoritative look at the evolution of Irish dance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

REVIEWS OF"THE STORY OF IRISH DANCE"
" This work not only fills a vacuum for traditional music afficionados but is a spell-binding read" - SUNDAY TRIBUNE (Dublin)

"THE STORY OF IRISH DANCE is a serious study which succeeds in being both entertaining and stimulating." - IRISH NEWS (Belfast)

"THE STORY OF IRISH DANCE is of interest to the general reader and as a source for scholars of Irish dance, dance anthropology, folklore and cultural studies" - IRISH TIMES (Dublin)

" .. a remarkable collection of anecdotes and well-researched background... a fascinating account." - IRISH INDEPENDENT (Dublin)

"THE STORY OF IRISH DANCE is a catalogue of extrordinary anecdotes, meticulous research and the rehearsal of acrimonious controversies whose effects linger on today." - THE EXAMMINER (Cork)

"Helen Brennan has written a fascinating account." - R.T.É. GUIDE (Dublin)

"THE STORY OF IRISH DANCE really is a story to be read by anyone with an interest in any form of dance .." - DANCE EXPRESSION (U.K.)

"THE STORY OF IRISH DANCE is a must, not only for Irish dance fans, but also for anyone interested in Ireland's wonderful past. Helen brings history to life." - IRISH DANCING MAGAZINE

"This book not only weaves a social tapestry around the dance but is also a reminder not to lose sight of the basics. It is a 'must' for anyone involved or interested in Irish dancing." - SET DANCING NEWS (Ireland)

Wonderful Readable Story of Irish Dance
My mother bought me this book last spring when my parents visited Ireland.The author was kind enough to autograph it for me.That alone was enough to make me want to read this book, but once I started, I couldn't put the book down.Ms. Brennan tells the story of Irish Dance with an obvious love of the subject and a gift for storytelling.She introduces us to famous dancers of the recent past and tells the story of dance in different areas of the country.I found myself enjoying this book more than I ever expected, and learned a great deal in the process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Probably the best commercial work on the topic to date
There is a serious lack of books on Irish dancing that are not aimed at children or are not avaiable exclusively to an academic audience (for example, dissertations). It seems to me that before this, the only publicly available book on a comparable level was Helen Brennan's work- which is not nearly as sophisticated in terms of dance theory (although Brennan's book is well written, accessible, and definitely worth reading!). I see this book as attempting to correct some of this absence.

The book examines variety of dance practices and traces their developments in Ireland. It pays equal attention to traditional Irish dancing, ballet, and modern dance in Ireland. It offers a refreshing perspective, especially because it does not focus as much on an idealized image of Irish dancing, and because it makes note of and gives deference to cross-pollination between the forms (especially in the later Irish dancing chapters). It also makes some attempt to place dance in Ireland within a social and political context (although this could be more extensive).

There are currently no other publicly available books to my knowledge that are as comprehensive in their approach to dance in Ireland as this particular publication. I have also rarely seen a book relating to Irish dancing that felt so fresh and modern.

I highly recommend it. I also think it would be a great text for an introductory class on Irish dancing in a university setting. It could also be a good text for an undergraduate class in Irish studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Cute but not accurate
There is so little Irish dance literature out there that I was excited to find this book being a dancer myself. Regardless of the level of difficulty I would not recommend this book for any child that wants to learn about Irish dance. The information is not correct. Reels and light jigs are soft shoe dances, not hard shoe dances as stated in the book. You can find more accurate information on the Internet about Irish dance. Don't provide your children with misinformation about Irish dance.

Pretty Disappointing ...
The book is not geared to an 8 year old -- it's geared to a VERY beginning reader.Furthermore, it has a picture of dancers in hard shoes purportedly doing a "Reel" and dancers in hard shoes purportedly doing a "Light Jig" -- both of which are SOFT SHOE (Ghillie) dances.My 9 year old Irish Dancer and her class and instructors all got a tremendous laugh out of it though.My daughter's exact statement was: "you shouldn't write a book if you don't know what you're talking about."Words o'wisdom?It would be fine for a 4 or 5 year old, but no more.

Great primer for your young child beginning Irish dance.
This is a small staple-bound but full-color booklet with attractive pictures and simple text. Perfect for my preschooler beginning Irish dance!

While the pictures might interest older readers, the text is very simple: "Irish step dancing is danced to Irish music. I move my feet to the music. I keep my arms at my sides."

Half the pictures show girls in street/exercise clothes, the other half in dance costume. There are no boys pictured, unfortunately. There are two pictures of hardshoe, the rest is softshoe dancing.

Recommended for ages four to six or so.

Be Prepared!
This book is nothing at all like I was expecting.I read one review and thought it would be great but it is a typical "see Jane run" book.About three sentences on a page with very BIG letters.I thought it would be a great stocking stuffer for my 9 year old dancer who is competing but she would be very bored with it.It will , more likely, be given to my 5 year old as she is just learning to read.It does state ages 4-8 but be aware it is for VERY early readers.

get this book!!!!!!
When i bought this book at the book store, i really didn't think it was going to be that great, because i am an Irish Step dancer, and i can tell if what he was writing about was real or fake. But i understood every thing he was writing about. and i love this book, if your an irish step dancer..... get this book!!! ... Read more

Book Description
The competition is on! Two champion dancers, Aidan and Michael, arrive in the village of Ballyconneely at the very same moment, each hoping to become the town's dance master. The villagers can support only one instructor, so the men agree to battle it out through rounds of reels and hornpipes. At each stage of the contest, the men challenge each other by calling for more and more difficult tunes to test their opponent's skill. Cheered on by the gathering crowd, the men dance on increasingly daring platforms from rain barrels to stone walls and beyond as each inspires the other until the best man wins. Based on a true event, this classic tale illustrates the enduring tradition of dance and music in Ireland. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Kids picture book
Our family really enjoyed this book. Darling illustrations, great story and gives you a little history of Irish dance in rural Ireland.

A fantastic children's picturebook inspired by a true event
Written by Anna Marlis Burgard and illustrated by Leighanne Dees with aid from the watchful eyes of Irish dance and folklore experts, Flying Feet: A Story Of Irish Dance is a fantastic children's picturebook inspired by a true event - a singularly memorable dance championship that took place when two master dancers tested their talents to determine who was worthy to become the dance instructor of Ballyconneely. A two-part unfolding page reveals the climactic moment when one of the contestants is so entranced in the passion of the moment he appears to take to the skies! The exuberant color illustrations emphasize a celebration and appreciation of Irish dance and cultural heritage. An afterword at the end offers some educational notes about the history of Irish dance.

Highly Recommended
A brilliant book for the wee ones!The wonderful text and rich illustrations reveal a tale of a dance competition in the west of Ireland that inspires and enlightens. ... Read more

Book Description
A history of Irish dance, from its ancient origins to the present day, and detailed step instructions for 30 popular Irish dances are covered in this comprehensive guide to the dancing that has enthralled audiences worldwide. This book provides information about professional and social Irish dancing, paying special attention to the importance of music, costume, embroidery, and shoes. With clear and simple instructions to the most well-known Irish dances, as well as step-by-step photos demonstrating arm and body positions for reels, jigs, and hornpipes, this book will benefit anyone with an interest in or love of Irish dance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Quick Overview
This is a good introduction to the topic of Irish Music with a little bit on dance, more from the point of view of dance in relation to Music rather than as a full entity in it's own right.

It's well laid out with sections on history, 20th century revival and modern variants on the theme, being published in 1998 it misses out on the Riverdance Phenomena and the longevity of that.It even has some tunes in sheet music.It also has some stories connected with music, an exploration of the major instruments and their history with Irish music as well as the big names in Irish Music, both modern and older.

It does miss out on the fact that some players use tonic sol-fa to learn, as well as "notes" and playing by ear.It would be a 5* book if accompanied by a CD. I really did love how the pieces of music were either from the people mentioned or were related to the topic being discussed.This is a little gem of a book and a good foot in the door for people looking to learn about Irish Music and Dance. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A little fun
We have an Irish heritage so I got two of these for my girls for a little gift for St.Pat's Day.They have fun with it.It's small but entertaining. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not the best book on the subject.
Elizabeth Venable's review above is absolutely right about this book.The most authoritative book on Irish Dance is Helen Brennan's "The Story of Irish Dance", Brandon Press, 1999, isbn 0 86322 244 7.

Unreliable, Sparsely Located Information
This, a very frustrating book, links factual information with "myth". His apparent knowledge of the competative system is quite limited. No sources are given, and there is very little information that isspecific enough to check. Perhaps a good source for a child's report.

nice
I thought that this book was very interesting, although frustrating because there were no pictures, only illustrations. The best part of this book was the last chapter, in which a step by step instruction shows how todo several moves in the Irish Jig. This book is a must for anyone new tothe world of Irish Dancing becuase it gives an overview of the history,future, origins, costumes, etc. of Irish Dancing.

nice
I thought that this book was very interesting, although frustrating because there were no pictures, only illustrations. The best part of this book was the last chapter, in which a step by step instruction shows how todo several moves in the Irish Jig. This book is a must for anyone new tothe world of Irish Dancing becuase it gives an overview of the history,future, origins, costumes, etc. of Irish Dancing. ... Read more

Book Description
A combination of 50 well-known and rare Irish tunes, all written in the keys in which they are most often played. Also includes extensive notes on playing this type of music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

You can play and tap your toes at the same time! Great Book
Irish Dance Tunes for All Harps by Sylvia Woods.

All of Sylvia's harp arrangements have a "high playability" rating with me. Believe me when I say this because I have looked at, and purchased a lot of harp music overthe years. No one can arrange for the harp the way Sylvia can!This bookis a perfect example of being able to make playable complicated Irish jigs,slip jigs, reels and hornpipes for those of us who are not "professional"harp players.This traditional music gets all of our collective toestapping. Two introductions are included to help the novice betterunderstand the nature and spirit of Irish dance tunes. I have had a lot offun, and challenge, from the pieces in this book.It also includes one ofmy FAVORITE AIRS, Carrickfergus. ... Read more

Product Description
Irish dance tunes for flatpicking guitar, taught by Eric Thompson. Includes three instructional CDs (three hours of material) with note-by-no, phrase-by-phrase instruction. Part of Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop Audio Series. ... Read more

Book Description
This instruction book deals with solo playing, accompanying Irish music, tunings, etc. Features solo tunes, accompanied tunes, a bibliography, a discography, and sections on Irish music in general. Compact disc available. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Dance Magazine, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2006. The length of the article is 1077 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Teacher's wisdom: Donny Golden.(THIS MONTH)(Irish dancing)(Interview)
Author: Darrah Carr
Publication: Dance Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 80Issue: 3Page: 88(2)

Article Type: Interview

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Irish Literary Supplement, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2006. The length of the article is 1926 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Boston scene.(See You At The Hall! Boston's Golden Era of Irish Music and Dance)(Book review)
Author: Ann Morrison Spinney
Publication: Irish Literary Supplement (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 26Issue: 1Page: 1(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Contents include: The Kerry Set, The Monaghan, Lancers, South Gallway Reel, Caledonian, Mazurka, Plain, Castle, Cuil Aodha, and The Sliabh Luachra Set; plus the steps, the music, glossary of terms, and illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description
In this cassette, Sylvia Woods plays all the pieces in her instructional book ÕIrish Dance Tunes For All Harps.Õ She has recorded them at a slow tempo so they will be easy to play along with.The right hand playing is on one track and the left hand is on another, so you can turn down one channel and play along with just the melody or the accompaniment. ... Read more