The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-06-10

Then is danced what is called side
step, the ladies dance to the left, gen.
tlemen to the right. The sidestep con-
sists of seven beats alternately on
each foot, then is danced the two.
threes (three beats, beginning on left
foot and then three beginning on right,
the ladies), for the gentlemen, the re-
verse is the case. They begin on the
right. The side step and threes are
danced until square is completed.
There are other pretty parts to this
dance, but to properly appreciate them
all, it would be necessary to witness
it being performed. There is the
rinnce fada Cong dance.) 1t derives
its name from the fact that the dane
ers face each other in two lines, as in
the Virginia reel. Ten to fourteen
people can form single set for this
dance. Jig music is played for it.
The two first couples at the turn of
the tune dance jig step on the right
foot, give four right hands across and
dance round in circle, till they reach
their original places. Then Jig step
on the left foot is danced, lett hands
are given across and they dance back
to place. The leading couple then
dance between the second couple, then
back again. First lady goes behind
second lady, and gentleman behind
second gentleman, they meet, dance
round twice, the second couple doing
likewise. The first couple changes
places with the second, and dances
with the third couple, what has al.
ready been described, and so it goes,
until all of the couples are dancing.
Many people regard this as being
even prettier than the four-hand reel.
The eight-hand reel is another dance
that has attracted much attention. 1t
is danced by four couples. They lead
round as in the four-hand reel, but
the body and figures are intricate and
pretty. Other dances that are fast
gaining favor are the four-hand jig
and High Caul Cap, which are just as
fascinating as those already described.
1t may be well in this place to ex-
plain point about the four-hand reel,
High Caul Cap, four-hand jig and
eight-hand reel. These dances are d.
vided into two parts, the body aud the
figure. TO illustrate what is meant by
the term body: By this is meant
that part Of the dance which is per-
formed before each figure. In the
four-hand reel, for instance, the body
consists OF the following: The lead
around, sevens and threes; four
sevens; lead down and back, chain;
after this is danced the figure. 1t must
be plain to any one of average intelli-
gence that Irish dancing is superior
to the waltz and other dances which
are foolishly labeled american" by
too many people who are unaware OF
their foreign origin. There is a pe-
ginning and an end in an Irish dance,
something which is unknown concern
ing the idiotic waltz. These dances
strengthen the claim of the Irish peo-
pie to a civilization hundreds of years
older than that of the other European
countries. They give the lie to the
statements of various English writer's
who have attempted to blacken the
irish race before the world, holding
them up as people but recently re-
moved from barbarous state. The
world is indebted to DR.. Douglas Hyde
and those associated with him in the
effort to restore the language, litera-
ture, customs and pastimes of Erin.
That work has been taken up and is
being we'll forwarded by the Gaelic
League workers here. One of the fea-
lures of the Gaelic Leagues work in
New York is school where these
dances are taught, "Cumann ma
Rinnce," which meets on Monday
evening at Columbus avenue and
Sixty-sixth street, Manhattan. These
dances, as has been intimated before,
are also taught by the various
branches of the League, and particu-
lar attention is given them at the
rooms of the Brooklyn Gaelic Society,"