Intro to Sean-Nós Dancing:
How to Dance Like You're from the West of Ireland!

Sean-Nós means 'old way', harking back to the kind of dancing people did years ago in the kitchen: a much looser, more relaxed style, where the emphasis was on moving in sync to the music. The dancing style is close to the floor and very low-key. This is not the Irish step dancing of Riverdance - Sean-Nós dancing is relaxed, accessible and best of all extremely fun!

Sean-Nós dancing is for everyone! Those who don't play an instrument are able to connect to the traditional Irish music and culture they love with their instruments - their bodies! Existing and aspiring Irish musicians learning Sean-Nós dancing will form a closer bond to the melodies and rhythms of traditional Irish music, and begin to hear the music in a deeper way. Added bonus for all: Being able to hop up at a session and show your stuff with your friends!

Leading your journey will be the world’s best combo, fun, Irish-born teacher, one Niall O’Leary (full bio). Niall is a former All-Ireland and World Champion dancer from Dublin who now calls Manhattan home. He is the founder of the Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance which has been community-building and training champions since 1995 with locations in New York City, Miami, and Mexico. He is in constant demand across the world as a performer, choreographer, master instructor and adjudicator in Irish Dance and is Artistic Director of the annual New York City Irish Dance Festival. A man of many talents, Niall is a regular feis adjudicator and musician, playing piano-accordion and keyboards; he also plays spoons, spoon-horn and bodhrán, and teaches Irish mouth music, Irish whistling, Irish singing, Irish language and body percussion in addition to sean-nós dancing at workshops across America.

Now don’t you want to come spend some time learning with him?