Hornpipe (Very) Basics

Practice these little movements until they are crisp and clear. All of this should be done with the ball of your foot striking the floor for the best/loudest sound.

Tip-Down (aka Brush-Step or Flap in tap dancing)
Weight is on Left Foot
Brush the Right Foot forward making 1 sound as the ball of the foot strikes the floor
Step or jump onto the Right Foot making 1 sound as you land on the Right Foot
Weight is not on the Right Foot
Brush the Left Foot forward
Step or jump onto Left Foot

repeat alternating feet ad nauseum.

Treble (aka Batter, Rally or Shuffle in tap dancing)
Weight is on the Left Foot
Brush the Right Foot forward making 1 sound
Brush the Right Foot backward making 1 sound

This step doesn't alternate - you need to step or something in order to switch feet.


NOW THE GOOD STUFF

Step One

"Single Shuffle"
Tip Down with Right
Tip Down with Left
Treble with Right
Hop on Left
Step on Right close behind the Left

Tip Down with Left
Tip Down with Right
Treble with Left
Hop on Right
Step on Left close behind the Right

Tip Down with Right
Tip Down with Left
Treble with Right
Hop on Left
Step on Right close behind the Left

"Over-2-3's"
Leap onto Left
Step on Right in front
Step on Left in back

Leap onto Right
Step on Left in front
Step on Right in back

Leap onto Left
Step on Right in front
Step on Left in back

"Treble Hop Back"
Treble with Right Foot
Hop on Left Foot
Step on Right Foot close behind the Left

"Single Shuffles"
Tip Down with Left
Tip Down with Right
Treble with Left
Hop on Right
Step on Left close behind the Right

Tip Down with Right
Tip Down with Left
Treble with Right
Hop on Left
Step on Right close behind the Left

"Double Shuffle"
Step on Left Foot
Treble with Right Foot (bringing it up by knee in a cut)
Hop on Left Foot
Treble with Right Foot
Hop on Left Foot
Step Right Foot close behind the Left

Repeat all on the other foot:

Single Shuffle pattern 3x (L, R, L)
Over 2-3's 3x (R, L, R)
Treble Hop Back with Left Foot
Single Shuffle 2x (R, L)
Double Shuffle with Left Foot (step on Right to start, treble with the Left)

Old Style Irish Reel Steps

Here are two simple old style steps I learned at a Patrick O'Dea* workshop a number of years ago.

Cork Sevens and Threes

These Sevens start by going to the Left. There are no jumps like in modern style; just step your foot to the back instead of jumping to get the correct foot in front.

Start with weight on Left Foot
Step Right Foot behind the Left, step out with the Left, behind with the Right, and so on to complete "Seven."

We do this 3 times, so:
Sevens to the Left (step R-L-R-L-R-L-R)
Sevens to the Right(step L-R-L-R-L-R-L)
Sevens to the Left (step R-L-R-L-R-L-R)

Follow with 2 Threes:
Step Left Foot to the back
Step Right Foot in front
Step Left Foot in back again

Step Right Foot to the back
Step Left Foot in front
Step Right Foot in back again

Repeat other side:
Sevens to the Right
Sevens to the Left
Sevens to the Right
Threes stepping R-L-R
Threes stepping L-R-L

Threes Up Front
Weight is on the Left Foot
Brush Right Foot Forward
Brush Right Foot Backward
Step on the Right
Step on the Left
Threes stepping R-L-R
Threes stepping L-R-L
Sevens to the Left
Threes stepping L-R-L
Threes stepping R-L-R

Repeat other side:
Weight is now on the Right Foot
Brush Left Foot Forward
Brush Left Foot Backward
Step on the Left
Step on the Right
Threes stepping L-R-L
Threes stepping R-L-R
Sevens to the Right
Threes stepping R-L-R
Threes stepping L-R-L

*Patrick O'Dea teaches set and old-style workshops around the world. If you want to see a fun little sean-nos, or old style, dance-off, check out this video. Patrick O'Dea is the 2nd to dance, in the lighter colored jeans:

Mick Mulkerrin vs Patrick O'Dea

Beginner Reel Routine

This it the reel routine taught to students of the UW Continuing Studies Irish Dance class in Summer 2008

Lead Around
(Counted and-a 1-2-3, and-a 2-2-3, and-a 3-2-3, and so on to and-a 8-2-3)

Do 8 Threes in a circle (see post below for how to do Threes)

Side Step
(Counted jump-2-3-4-5-6-7, hop-back-2-3-, hop-back-2-3)

Do Sevens to the Right (start with a jump straight up, landing right foot in front)

Hop on Left Foot
Step Right Foot behind the Left
Step on Left Foot in front
Step on Right Foot in back again

Hop on Right Foot
Step Left Foot behind
Step Right Foot in front
Step Left Foot behind again

Do Sevens to the Left (start with jump straight up, landing Left Foot in front)

Hop on Right Foot
Step Left Foot behind
Step Right Foot in front
Step Left Foot behind again

Hop on Left Foot
Step Right Foot behind
Step Left Foot in front
Step Right Foot behind again (DON'T put all your weight on RF this time)

Step 1
(Counted hop-hop-1-2-3, hop-hop-1-2-3, up-2-3-4-5-6-7, hop-hop-1-2-3, repeat)

Hop 2 times on Left Foot while holding Right Foot in front of Left Knee
Jump onto Right Foot
Step on Left Foot in front of Right
Step on Right Foot close behind Left

Hop 2 times on Right Foot while holding Left Foot in front of Right Knee
Jump onto Left Foot
Step onto Right Foot in front of Left
Step on Left Foot close behind Right

Do Sevens to the Right

Hop 2 times on Left Foot while holding Right Foot in front of Left Knee
Jump onto Right Foot
Step on Left Foot in front of Right
Step on Right Foot close behind Left

Repeat other side:
Hop 2 times on Right Foot while holding Left Foot in front of Right Knee
Jump onto Left Foot
Step onto Right Foot in front of Left
Step on Left Foot close behind Right

Hop 2 times on Left Foot while holding Right Foot in front of Left Knee
Jump onto Right Foot
Step on Left Foot in front of Right
Step on Right Foot close behind Left

Do Sevens to the Left

Hop 2 times on Right Foot while holding Left Foot in front of Right Knee
Jump onto Left Foot
Step onto Right Foot in front of Left
Step on Left Foot close behind Right

Step 2
(Counted up-2-3, up-2-3, up-2-3-4-5-6-7, & point & point & point-hop-back, jump, switch, turn & back)

Hop on Left Foot
Step on Right Foot to the Right
Step on Left Foot close behind the Right

Hop on Left Foot
Step on Right Foot to the Right
Step on Left Foot immediately behind the Right

Do Sevens to the Right

Jump onto Right Foot and point Left Toe to the front
Jump onto Left Foot and point Right Toe to the front
Jump onto Right Foot and point Left Toe to the front
Hop on Right Foot
Step Left Foot close behind the Right

Jump Straight up, land with Right Foot in front
Jump Straight up, land with Left Foot in front
Jump and turn 90 degrees Right, land on Left foot with Right Toe pointed
Jump and turn 90 degrees to face front, land on both feet Left foot in front

repeat other side
Hop on Right Foot
Step on Left Foot to the Left
Step on Right Foot close behind the Left

Hop on Right Foot
Step on Left Foot to the Left
Step on Right Foot immediately behind the Left

Do Sevens to the Left

Jump onto Left Foot and point Right Toe to the front
Jump onto Right Foot and point Left Toe to the front
Jump onto Left Foot and point Right Toe to the front
Hop on Left Foot
Step Right Foot close behind the Left

Jump Straight up, land with Left Foot in front
Jump Straight up, land with Right Foot in front
Jump and turn 90 degrees Left, land on Right foot with Left Toe pointed
Jump and turn 90 degrees to face front, land on both feet Right foot in front

Lead Around

Repeat Lead Around from beginning and take a bow!

Irish Reel Threes - Huh?

I got an email request to explain those "threes" we do for the reel.

So here's an attempt:

Stand with your weight on the Left Foot
Point your Right Foot in front of you

Lift your Right Foot off the ground (as high as is comfortable) - you have all weight on LF
Jump off your Left Foot (and kick yourself in the pants with it if you can) - you are airborn!
Land on your Right Foot - you have all weigh on RF
Immediately put your Left Foot in Front of the Right Foot - you have all weight on LF
Tuck your Right Foot very close behind your Left Foot - you have all weight on RF

Lift LF off ground - Count "and"
Jump off your RF - Count "a"
Land on LF - Count "1"
Step on RF in FRONT - Count "2"
Step on LF close behind RF - Count "3"

Keep repeating until you get the hang of it.

Notice you start the step by jumping from one foot onto the other.

For those of you who do better to watch than read a step:
I don't often refer people to Youtube because there's so much bad and incorrect dancing on there. However, here is a clip of master teacher and judge, Olive Hurley, trying to teach a reel to the editor of Irish Dance Magazine. Pay no mind to the other steps she does - we're not doing those. But do look at how she does the lead around:

Click here for IDM Reel

A Simple jig

This is a simple light jig routine.

Lead Around
8 Threes starting with the Right Foot

Side Step
Sevens to the Right
Rise and Grind
Sevens to the Left
Rise and Grind

Step One
Sink and Grind with Right Foot in Front
Skip Forward (Hop Step R, Hop Step L, Hop Step R, L, R, L)
Skip Backward (Hop Step R, Hop Step L, Hop Step R, L, R, L)
Rise and Grind with Right Foot in Front

Sink and Grind with Left Foot in Front
Skip Forward (Hop Step L, Hop Step R, Hop Step L, R, L, R)
Skip Backward (Hop Step L, Hop Step R, Hop Step L, R, L, R)
Rise and Grind with Left Foot in Front

Step Two
Sink and Grind with Right Foot Front
Hop on Left then Step R, L, R, L with Right in Front
Hop on Left then Step R, L, R, L with Right in Back
Sevens turning clockwise
Rise and Grind with Right Foot

Sink and Grind with Left Foot Front
Hop on Right then Step L, R, L, R with Left in Front
Hop on Right then Step L, R, L, R with Left in Back
Sevens turning counter-clockwise
Rise and Grind with Left Foot



Step Three
Step on Right then Kick with Left
Hop on Right then Step L, R, L, R with Left in Back
Step on Left then Kick with Right
Hop on Left then Step R, L, R, L with Right in Back
Tap Right toe to Back
Tap Right heel to Front
Jump and land Right foot in Back
Jump and land Right foot in Front
Rise and Grind with Right Foot

Step on Left then Kick with Right
Hop on Left then Step R, L, R, L with Right in Back
Step on Right then Kick with Left
Hop on Right then Step L, R, L, R with Left in Back
Tap Left toe to Back
Tap Left heel to Front
Jump and land Left foot in Back
Jump and land Left foot in Front
Rise and Grind with Left Foot

Lead Around Again and Take a Bow!