The Fancy Dahill Jig Step

Dance notation is nearly impossible, but I'll try anyway.

This jig step was shown to my dance friends and me many years ago at the Dubliner Pub in Saint Paul, MN. Since we sort of put Eileen Dahill, who showed us the step, on the spot and at a busy bar no less, it took a long time to try to piece together what she'd shown us after she left. This is my best estimation.

Stand facing front.
Step on the RF whilst facing 45 degrees to the left.
Kick up your LF with a straight leg.
Hop on the RF.
Hop again on the RF while bringing the LF behind it
Step 4 times LF RF LF RF (LF is in back, RF is in front)

Step on the LF whilst facing 45 degrees to the right.
Kick up your RF with a straight leg.
Hop on the LF.
Hop again on the LF while bringing the RF behind it
Step 4 times RF LF RF LF (RF is in back, LF is in front)

Brush the RF forward
Hop on the LF
Jump and land with weight on both feet (RF lands in front)
Jump and land with weight on both feet (LF lands in front)
Jump and land with weight on both feet (RF lands in front)
Jump and land with weight on both feet (LF lands in front)
Kick LF while hopping on RF
Hop again on RF while bringing LF behind
Step 4 times LF RF LF RF

Repeat entire step starting on the opposite foot.


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Rise and Grind

A step that shows up in jigs for both step and ceili dancing is the Rise and Grind. If you master this step, you will have mastered the most difficult footwork in all of ceili dancing.

Here is a basic, all-purpose version of the Rise and Grind:

(Count the step "Hop up, hop back, hop back 2-3-4")

Hop up: Hop on the left foot and bring your right foot up to you left knee at the same time.
Hop back: Skip* backwards landing your right foot behind.
Hop back: Skip backwards landing your left foot behind.
2-3-4: Step right, left, right.

Start over on the left foot.

*To skip backwards, hop on your left foot THEN put your right foot on the floor behind the left foot. It's a hop followed by a step.

Welcome

Welcome to Heidi's Irish Dance Page. I'm Heidi.

I started learning Irish dance in 1993 in St. Paul, Minnesota. I started with ceili, added sets and a little step too. Hopefully, through this blog I'll be able to put down some of the things I've learned in writing so that others can learn something and so that I don't forget what I've learned myself.