We are a small, vibrant community of sean-nós dancers in the Puget Sound area. We host weekly classes for beginners and intermediate dancers in Seattle. We've also organized dance workshops with prominent teachers like Patrick O'Dea, Ronan Regan, Kieran Jordan, and Maldon Meehan. It's rare treat to find sean-nós dancing anywhere outside of Ireland. Come join us!
About Alicia Guinn
Alicia Guinn currently teaches sean-nós, set, and céilí dancing in the Seattle area. She is one of only a handful of dancers teaching sean-nós dancing in America.
Alicia started dancing as an adult while living in Northern Ireland in 1997. Since then, she has studied set and sean-nós dancing in Galway, Ireland, taught Irish dance workshops for festivals across the United States, and had the honor of dancing on stage with traditional musicians like Johnny B. Connolly, and Liz Carroll and John Doyle.
Her sean-nós style incorporates steps learned directly from Galway dancers including Pádraig Ó hOibicín, Róisín Ní Mhainín, Máire Áine Ní Iarnáin, Rónán Regan, and Seosamh Ó Neachtain.
Tom King dancing some lovely sean-nós steps in the 70s.
Sean-nós, which means 'old style' or 'old way' in Irish Gaelic, is a fun, easy form of old-style Irish step dancing. The strongest tradition persists in the Connemara, a rural Irish-speaking area in County Galway on the West Coast of Ireland .
Sean-nós dancing is a lifelong pursuit perfect for all ages. Unlike competitive Modern Irish Step Dancing, sean-nós dancing is easier on your body. If you've ever had the urge to dance a jig (or a reel), sean-nós dancing is for you!
Have questions? E-mail Alicia Guinn at maithcailin@yahoo.com.
Máirtín Beag Ó Gríofa
A clip from a documentary about Western Ireland's cultural links with Spain and North Africa featuring the dancing of Máirtín Beag Ó Gríofa, a well-known sean-nós dancer of the previous generation.
Steppin' It Out
Emma O'Sullivan, a sean-nós dancer from Co. Galway, dancing a few steps at the Plough and Stars pub in San Francisco, California.
To Sean Nos Seattle We are playing Seattle this week. Not trad, but we have one Hanz Araki in the band. Cmon out if you like. cheers, Casey
THURSDAY July 24th - SEATTLE, WA The Sunset Tavern 9pm (we are in the middle slot of 3 bands). 5433 Ballard Avenue $6 www. sunsettavern. com Casey Neill & the Norway Rats with Kasey Anderson Band
Thanks Alicia- you guys were certainly kickin' it Folklife too- twas a grand night for all- see you in Seattle on the next go around or you can always come visit us in Pdx!
hey there! nice to meet you! love the video you have of the man dancing on the boat! brilliant! oh the oireachtas! im never going to win it! unless i change my address to connemara galway!! it went off air when i was dancing last year! typical!! i was aging cos i cudnt see for myself how i danced afterwards!! make sure you come upand say hello to me in miltown! 47 days to go!! woooohooooo! chat soon edwina (",)x
Hi there. We just uploaded a sneak preview video from the new CD thats coming out in May. Check it out at http://ie. youtube. com/watch?v=8kFSmrJokn8 or on our myspace videos, And let us know what you think of it.
Hi Alicia! Just met another friend of yours in Limerick, Shannon Dunne. Yes, would love to meet at some point and do some dancing. I believe I will be at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes for a few days hanging out if you are going to be around.
Hey Al, Here's a video of the new male siamang while he was on exhibit at Disney. He's the one swinging in the basket and smacks his dad on the head. http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=Y7D9OxLD27k And you asked about guest comments... we had a woman this week ask Jessica if the meerkats were nesting. I've also had a woman ask me if they give live birth! You know, mammals... fur.. I thought that was an obvious one. Love you!
I've been meaning to come to your classes again for sometime, but the only dancing that I've been doing lately seems to be the harborview happy dance when I leave work.
ah just doing as they done it in mayo all them years ago, its a bitch tryin to stay on that thing while dancing, i prefer the ole half door like they used to do it in our area long ago..
ya i haven't missed miltown since i started going 15 yreas ago, its class
(To be honest, I previously thought sean-nos was a (slow) singing style, but now I know - it's "old style" dance, also.)
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace -
2 of 230, walkaboutsverse.741.com: WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hi Alicia! I will be back next week! Tomorrow is Evan's 22nd birthday (the boyfriend!). I can't wait to be back!!!! I've missed dancing SO much!!! See you soon! <3 Kat
