3. The Blackbird (North Kerry) - Performance

This Blackbird set dance is a Hornpipe set dance and is popular among step dancers. This version from North Kerry was choreographed by the itinerant dancing master Jeremiah Molyneaux (1881-1965). During my time collecting the traditional step and set dances in North Kerry (1983-1985), I found different versions of Blackbird set dances. This version was a popular one. In North Kerry, I found that there were many versions of solo step dances and set dances as personal and interpersonal variations of dances were important stylistic features of the Molyneaux traditional step dancing practice. Therefore, there was not one but many versions of step dances and set dances; the steps and set dances from North Kerry in this DVD represent only one version of these dances in the Molyneaux style.
Note: The terms choreographer and choreography are used throughout the Stór Damhsa DVD. However, within the living step-dance practices in North Kerry, step dancers and itinerant dancing masters did not use these terms, instead they used to say that the step dance was “made up” by a particular dancer or dancing master.
The Blackbird is danced to music of the same name.
The Step of the Blackbird is 7.5 bars long; the Set is 15 bars long.
Guest step dancer: Jimmy Smith.
Musicians: Eileen O'Brien and Liam O'Brien. Music: "The Blackbird".
See also "Tutorial" of "Blackbird (North Kerry)", and for comparative purposes the "The Blackbird (Cork) - "Performance" and "Tutorial".
Copyright Catherine Foley (2015). Unauthorised copying and broadcasting is prohibited. All rights reserved.