Irish Céilí: Lines of Four Facing Four

Céilí is Irish social group dancing, different from competitive Irish dance, meant for lots of people to dance together. Based on traditional dances like The Siege of Ennis, two lines of four advance, pass through each other and move on to meet a new group.

How to play

1. "Sevens" step: seven quick side steps and two steps in place ("threes"), one way and then the other (5 min).
2. Form hand-held lines of four, facing another line 4 m away, and practice advancing and retiring in eight counts (5 min).
3. Pass through: both lines let go and pass through each other, right shoulder to right shoulder (5 min).
4. Arm figure: each dancer turns with the person opposite by the right elbow, then the left (5 min).
5. Full dance: advance and retire, sevens, turns, and pass through to meet the next line (7 min).
6. Final round at a faster tempo until you get back to your starting line (3 min).

Rules

• When passing through, always right shoulder to right shoulder.
• Elbow turns are done with bent arms, no pulling.
• The line moves together: watch the middle dancer.
• If a line gets lost, wait in place for the next phrase.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: dance in the middle of the line, holding both hands, with a verbal cue before passing through.
• Students with limited mobility: their line walks the sevens and the wheelchair passes through the wide gap they leave.
• Hesitant students: start in a line with two classmates who already know it.

Learning goals

• Perform the céilí sevens-and-threes side step.
• Stay oriented while advancing, passing through and changing groups.
• Dance with different classmates in each round.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 12
• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

Mark each line pair's lane with cones so they don't drift. Point out that céilí is for everyone, learned at social gatherings, and you don't need to be an expert.

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