Royal Playa Del Carmen – review

Wonderful all-inclusive.  Highly recommended.

Is the Royal perfect?  No.

Is the Royal almost perfect?  Yes.

First off, I’m someone that usually works to stay away from all-inclusive resorts.  The idea of going to a new place in the world and being separated from the people that live in that place is a big turn-off.  When I go someplace, I want to be *in* the place, so I can see what it’s really like. Continue reading Royal Playa Del Carmen – review

Set dance classes at Trinity Hall Sep/Oct

Another round of Trinity Hall classes are coming up in September.

Here’s the plan.

Where: Trinity Hall

When: 7-9:30pm
Sep 3rd, 17th
Oct 1st, 15th
Nov 5th (delayed one week!)

What:
We’ll start off with basics/review at 7 for the common steps/movements used in the more popular set dances (advance and retire, sevens, basic battering to be used later, etc).  If you haven’t danced a set in a while (or ever) or if you would like a review (or just want any excuse to get up and move around) this is for you. The others might want to show up during this period just to settle in before we start the first set.

We’ll break for a short while about 7:45-ish and move on to working on the current round of sets.  If you’ve come for the beginner portion, stay for the rest!  There’s usually enough experienced people that we can (gently) drag you through the movements.

We went through The Merchant Set and The Connemara Reel during the last session so we’ll rip through those on the 3rd and follow those in later sessions with the Corofin Plain and Camp Set. Depending on how things go we may add more sets to the list and/or spend some extra time on footwork.

Except for the beginning and ending time, the schedule will be somewhat fluid depending on the experience of the attendees and how quickly we progress.

Who: While there’s no particular age or height limit, this is more of an adult or young-adult kind of class in that it works best with people of similar height and attentiveness.  If you aren’t sure, just ask!

Cost: Whatever you can afford or think the class is worth, we’ll have a tip jar at the entrance to the dance area.

Q. What should I bring?

A desire to get up and move about.  Shoes that are comfortable and allow you to slide easily (but not too slippery!) on a tile floor.

Friends and family!

Q. What should I do to prepare?

Feel free to take a look at the notes linked above though this isn’t required.

We’d also like to know who’s planning on coming so please respond with an “I’ll be there and I’m bringing X people!”

if you can commit to the entire set of classes that would be best.

Ahh, a September Ceili

It’s finally cooling off, the clouds saw fit to mizzle on us most of the day and the temperature was finally in the range where it was pleasant to go for a walk in the middle of the day.

Naturally we all piled into the pub Trinity Hall to jump around and get hot to good music played by the Trinity Hall Session Players

The dances done were:

Haymakers jig,
Siege of Ennis
Kilfenora Set
High Cauled Cap
Ballyvourney jig
Rakes of Mallow

Hopefully next month I’ll be able to spend more time dancing and calling than this time.  Thanks to everyone how came out to dance and to Trinity Hall and the session players for the venue and wonderful music!

Click on the picture for the full gallery.

Dance picture updates

For a number of reasons, we’ve been tardy in putting up pictures from recent dancing events.  Well, here they are:

Trinity Hall Feb 19

NTIF 2012

Trinity Hall Mar 18

The next dance is on April 7th at the Sammons Center.  Come on out and join the fun!

Interesting Things: Feb SCMA ceili – lovely night

Last night’s SCMA ceili at the Sammons Center was great fun. Had another good crowd and made it through the Antrim Square, Cavan Reel Set, Bonfire Dance, Siege of Carrick, Fairy Reel, Balleyvourney Jig Set, Haymakers Jig and the Back to Back Hornpipe



Next month the ceili will be at the North Texas Irish Festival so come on out at 7pm for the ceili and 1pm for the dance workshop


Technorati : ceili, dance, music.craic, pub, scma
Del.icio.us : ceili, dance, , pub, scma

Interesting Things: Feb SCMA ceili

The next SCMA ceili is coming up this Saturday at the Sammons Center.

Tell your friends, your friends friends, your siblings and office cohorts about the ceili. Drag those people out who you know would enjoy a night of jumping, sliding, bouncing fun with good music but insist on saying ‘I don’t know how.’ We’ll show you and there are plenty of people who can help pull and push you through the dances.

The theme for this ceili is ‘Less teaching, more dancing.’ We’re going to try just running through the more difficult aspects of a dance and depend on people to watch closely when it isn’t their turn and on the experienced group at large to help the new people if they run into trouble. If there are enough ‘ringers’ at the ceili that should result in more dancing throughout the night.

For the lesson period this month we’ll finish up the Cavan Reel and continue with the Antrim Square.

For the main ceili time we’re thinking of doing (in no particular order):

Antrim Square
Cavan Reel Set
Bonfire Dance
Siege of Carrick
Balleyvourney Jig Set
Haymakers Jig
Walls of Limerick
Back to Back Hornpipe
Aoife Three Step
Bridge of Athlone

Technorati : ceili, dance, music.craic, pub, scma
Del.icio.us : ceili, dance, , pub, scma

Interesting Things: First Trinity Hall ceili for 2012

Had a good crew out for dancing at the first Trinity Hall ceili of 2012.



Great music by the THSP as well. Thanks everyone for coming out!

Click on the picture to see more of the dancing and check the calendar for the next ceili!


Technorati : ceili, dance, music.craic, pub
Del.icio.us : ceili, dance, , pub

Interesting Things: New year ceili!

The first ceili of the new year at the Sammons Center. It was a great beginning.



Loads of people.



Loads of great dancing and music with three full sets and music by Hailey Sandoz and Joseph Carmichael.

Click on the pictures above for more views of the dancing. Come on out for the next ceili!


Technorati : ceili, dance, music.craic, scma
Del.icio.us : ceili, dance, , scma