Product 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 (3)

wonderful!
The Story of Irish Dance was a great book! I learned so much about the history of Irish dancing! The author writes in such an engaging style that transports the reader back through time. I am an Irish dancer and I would defiantly recommend this book to other Irish dancers as well as anyone with a love of Irish history. :]

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

Product Description
The Ghillie Girls: Irish Dance Pals is a fun guide to the wide, wonderful, and weird, world of Irish dance. A blend of fact and fiction, the book follows the adventures of four very different girls who have one thing in common--their love for Irish dance. Colorful illustrations and fact-filled sidenotes describe what Irish dancers do and wear and why, while highlighting the of value things besides winning medals, like teamwork, sportsmanship, and friendship. ... Read more

Product 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

Product Description
This book contains 50 Irish jigs, hornpipes, reels and airs arranged for the harp by Sylvia Woods. This is an excellent book for intermediate and advanced harp players interested in learning about Irish dance tunes, or for those already involved in the Irish music scene. It can be used by groups of musicians as well as harp soloists. In sharp keys with fingerings and chord symbols. ... 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
From the 1940s to the mid-1960s, on several evenings a week, thousands of Irish and Irish Americans flocked from miles around to the huge, bustling dance halls -- the Intercolonial, the Hibernian, Winslow Hall, the Dudley Street Opera House, the Rose Croix -- that dotted Boston's Dudley Square. For the city's Irish population, the Roxbury neighborhood, with its ballrooms and thriving shopping district, was a vital center of social and cultural life, as well as a bridge from the old world to the new.

See You at the Hall brings to life the rich history of the "American capitol of Galway" through the eyes of those who gathered and performed there. In this engaging look back at Boston's golden era of Irish traditional music, Susan J. Gedutis deftly weaves together engaging narrative with spirited personal reminiscences to trace the colorful dance hall period from its beginnings in 1940s Roxbury, when masses of young Irish flooded Boston following World War II, through its peak years in the 1950s, to its decline in the 1960s, when reduced immigration, urban social upheaval, and a shift in neighborhood demographics brought an end to the heyday of Irish dance hall music in Boston. After the last dance hall closed, Dudley Square musicians moved from the big ballrooms to pubs, social clubs, and private parties, preserving the music and passing it on to younger generations of Irish performers.

Today, Irish traditional music is experiencing a major revival, and Boston still boasts a lively Irish music scene. This vivid portrait of the enduring and vibrant heritage of the dance hall era will rekindle memories of the good times in Dudley Square, and it will fascinate the legion of fans around the globe interested in the roots of the Irish music they hear today in concert halls, pubs, and clubs. The book also recounts an important period, as yet unchronicled, in the history of Irish music in America, and of the Irish in the diaspora. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

History of Boston through the eyes of those who performed
From the1940s to the mid-1960s, several evenings a week, thousands of Irish and Irish Americans flocked to Boston's dance halls on Dudley Square to enjoy an unparalleled social scene of music, dance, and shopping. Musician and music book editor Susan Gedutis is also a performer of traditional Irish music in the New England area, and she's the logical author to add rich detail and social history to See You At The Hall, a probe of the history of Boston through the eyes of those who performed there. Narratives weave with social history to make for a compelling study in See You At The Hall.

Settle In, and I'll Tell You a Story
Would you like a cup of tea? How about a slice of soda bread? This book is as warm, lively, and fun as an Irish family gathering. Though the author is a music scholar, this book is refreshingly free of the weighty tone of most academic works--the writing is smooth, informed, and accessible, the tone affectionate. Ms. Gedutis has interviewed many performers and fans about this era, and their recollections are amusing, poignant, and nothing if not sincere. Not only do they recall strong images of a lost city, but they place the music in historical context: as the author points out, when the Irish first came to America, music halls--like social clubs, pubs, and church groups--were just one of the"meeting places" where new immigrants could relax among their own as they tackled the routine problems of life.The Irish well know the power of story and song-- in relating our history, in affirming our personal and collective identity, and in establishing a foundation of shared experience and hope in building a community.

Ms. Gedutis refuses to paint the tale with a broad brush, however. She addresses the social and cultural forces that less informed authors might miss. One example is the tension between some Irish and Irish-American musicians. The former apparently felt that the latter, not born of the Sod,weren't "real"Irish musicians. This view was heartily countered by Irish Americans, who pointed out that many of the "real" musicians couldn't read music. On the argument went, while people danced in the background.

In recalling this era, this book can't help but make one wonder if, in a world where Play Station and cable tv isolate us from one another, perhaps more of us (of all ethnic backgrounds), need to "go to the hall," to reconnect with our neighbors and friends for a dance, a drink, and a bit of chat.(Of course,the photo of Cardinal Cushing doing the Highland Fling is itself worth the price of the book.) ... Read more

Product Description
An invaluable reference work with terms in English and Gaelic, this concise glossary of Irish dance terms is intended for the active Irish dancer and teacher as well as the researcher. Terms cover areas such as dances, dance steps, and techniques; social dance; competitive dance; and historical contexts. ... Read more

Product Description
Fun-to-play, pedagogically sound easy piano arrangements of 21 perennial favorites include "Danny Boy," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "My Wild Irish Rose," "The Wearing of the Green," "Sweet Rosie O’Grady," "Kerry Dance," "Irish Washerwoman," and much more (many include lyrics). Beginning pianists of all ages will enjoy this spirited and modestly priced collection of classic Irish airs.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fast service - excellent condition
This book was everything and more than we expected! Thank you! Super fast service and book came in excellent condition, I highly recommend buying from this seller.

Not too difficult for the beginner.
Perfect for kids and entry level piano players (like me who is a 35yo woman JUST learning)will pass these on to the kids I am teaching on an even lower level of learning. Well written, cute graphics, interesting little dittys to play.

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

Product Description
In this first detailed history of Irish dance in the diaspora, Flanagan gives a fascinating account of the art form in one of its most important urban centers of practice - Chicago. Beginning with its appearance at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 to the emergence of world-renowned Chicago performers/choreographers such as Michael Flatley and Mark Howard, she describes the teachers, schools, and performances that contributed to making the city an international center of Irish dance. From John McNamara and Pat Roche in the fist half of the twentieth century to the Dennehy School and the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance in the second, Flanagan takes us on a journey that is distinctly Irish yet unmistakably American. Within the multicultural melting pot of America, Irish dance came of age in Chicago. Surrounded by and intersecting with a unique and complex set of cultural and political influences, Irish-Americans in Chicago took the lead in innovations within the dance form that eventually led to such groundbreaking productions as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Well-documented work with 85 b/w photos. ... Read more

Product Description
This book traces the history of dance in Ireland, with chapters on music, dance costumes, competitions, and the phenomenal revival. There are instructions and illustrated steps to two elementary dances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

dance story
I ordered this book expecting to see a list of dances with instructions. That's what I wanted...the instructions. Instead I got a story book with nice little watercolor paintings in it. I was vastly disappointed.

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