Product Description
Dancing at the crossroads used to be young people´s opportunity to meet and enjoy themselves on mild summer evenings in the countryside in Ireland until this practice was banned by law, the Public Dance Halls Act in 1935. Now a key metaphor in Irish cultural and political life, ´dancing at the crossroads´ also crystallizes the argument of this book: Irish dance, from Riverdance (the commercial show) and competitive dancing to dance theatre, conveys that Ireland is to be found in a crossroads situation with a firm base in a distinctly Irish tradition which is also becoming a prominent part of European modernity. ... Read more

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Product Description
This book is the sequel to the highly successful Toss the Feathers, providing a selection of set dances, including some danced in the United States and Canada, to complement the previous volume. It includes dances that have been revived since the publication of Toss the Feathers, among them old traditional sets and some sets more associated with competition set dancing. The sets are laid out in conventional set terminology and can be easily followed by teachers, pupils and anyone who has an acquaintance with the art of set dancing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Obscure Irish set dancing book was easy to get
Amazing!This obscure book about Irish set dancing was available through amazon.com.Even though it came from a seller in Europe, it was reasonably priced and arrived quickly and in excellent condition. ... Read more

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In 1982, the fledgling Native nonprofit Sealaska Heritage Institute held a dance-and-culture festival to celebrate the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. A couple of hundred Native people gathered in Juneau for the event, called Celebration. They could not have imagined then that Celebration woud spark a movement across the region - a renaissance of Native culture that prompted people largely unfamiliar with their heritage to learn their ancestral songs and dances and to make regalia for future Celebrations.

Today, Celebration is the largest cultural event in the state, drawing thousands of people to the five-day biennial festival. Celebration: Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian Dancing on the Land, featuring the work by the noted Alaska photographer Bill Hess, includes images from the first Celebrations to the present-day festivals. It is both an introduction to Native cultures and a cherished keepsake for the people who have participated in Celebration.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a regional Native nonprofit organization serving the indigenous peoples of Southeast Alaska. The Institute was founded in 1980 to administer cultural programs for Sealaska Corporation, a Native for-profit company formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The Institute's mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures. ... Read more

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To win a bride and a kingdom, a soldier endeavors to discover why the dancing shoes of the king's twelve daughters are worn to pieces every morning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

1 star for the paperbkshop not for the book necessarily
The book would have been lovely if I had received the actual book I ordered. The seller - paperbookshop in the uk advertised a version of the book that they did not have in stock!! I was bitterly disappointed to receive a very poor substitute version of the book I had ordered. They did not even bother to inform me that they did not have the item I ordered and simply shipped me a book I did not order!!

This makes me not want to buy things online. I wish I had seen the other people's angry reviews earlier but I think I bought it about the same time or a little before.

They said they would reimburse any reasonable shipping costs incurred in shipping the wrong book they shipped me back but have not responded to my later emails!! so I essentially paid $$ to ship the wrong book bk!! to find out the book was actually out of stock. i had emailed to specifically ask if they did have the right version and simply packed in error but they told me I had to ship the wrong book back to get the order "processed" so they could check for me. so in the end I lost money, ended up with no book and a bad taste in my mouth.

The Same Thing Happened to Me!
I also ordered the Errol Le Cain and got the Jane Ray version!What is the deal?Why is this happening?

I AM OUTRAGED
I specifically ordered the version illustrated by Errol Le Cain.Instead I received a most wretched version illustrated by Jane Ray.Now I will have to pay for shipping to return these monstrosities to the UK.I am extremely unsatisfied.This is misrepresentation at its best.Beware!

The rare real classic
When a certain kind of book is read to you as a child, and read repeatedly at that, the child in question is affected in ways that cannot be gauged tangibly.I was read "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", illustrated by Errol Le Cain, repeatedly as a child and it has stuck with me ever since.Some books just do.For the entirety of my childhood life I loved "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" more than any other fairy tale, and it was all due to this beautifully mesmerizing book.

The classic story of how a king attempts to discover the reason why his daughters wear out their shoes every night is rendered here in sumptuous detail.Artist Le Cain spent much of his life in Singapore and India, and his early experiences are well represented in his work.From the gloomy caverns through which the princesses must walk, to the glittering gold, silver, and diamond forests located below the castle, I am still truly mesmerized reading this story.Every page opposite the text contains a border of delicate imaginings and illustrations.Heck, I've noticed things in it now that I never even THOUGHT to discover as a child.Who knew that the good fairy spied on the final wedding?Not I.

It's, to my mind, the most beautifully illustrated fairy tale ever made.If you doubt me, I only ask that you look at the last picture in the book.A parting shot of the abandoned princes, waiting for the princesses to return to their underground realm.Each looking depressed and unhappy as the fake stars and moon hang glittering in the underground sky.Beauty incarnate.

Pure Art
These illustrations are fit for framing.The story is lovely, magical and fun.This is the stuff of great childrens books.A gem. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the most comprehensive paperback ever published on set dancing. It contains sixty-one complete set dances, including all those danced commonly in class, summer schools at feiseanna. These are laid out in conventional set terminology and can be easily followed by teachers, pupils and anyone who has an acquaintance with the art of set dancing. The book is also unique in containing the first concise history of the development of set dancing in Ireland from its eighteenth century European origins. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Obscure Irish set dancing book was easy to get
Amazing!This obscure book was readily available through amazon.com.Even though it came from a seller in Europe, it was reasonably priced and arrived quickly and in excellent condition.

Very comprehensive, accurate information
As a step dancer with limited exposure to set dancing, I found this book a wonderful introduction. Although I cannot personally vouch for the accuracy of his notation, I know/ have heard of several who do. In any case, it iswell written and researched.... An excellent historical guide. Probably thebest Irish dance (step or set) book sold on Amazon.

Toss the Feathers: Bible of Set Dancers
_Toss the Feathers_ is the definitive book on Irish set dancing.I bought a copy in Galway City, and it has saved me innumerable times.I carry it with me to all classes and ceilis; it's well-worn and well-loved.Besidesthe most common sets, Pat gives us notes for beautiful and obscure localdances.His introduction also includes an illuminating history of setdancing.Beware: you will not teach yourself to dance from this book ifyou have no prior knowledge of set dancing.However, it is ideal forsupplementing your knowledge from classes.When two set dancers disagreeon the "correct" version of a set, one inevitably pulls out acopy of Pat's book, and his judgement is trusted.All of us set dancingaddicts are awaiting the upcoming sequel.Buy it now!You'll never regretthis useful reference on bad days when you can't even remember how theBallyvourney Jig Set begins.

The perfect book for those who set dance!
This book is great for anyone who set dances but hasn't yet memorized all of the moves (-most of us?!). Not intended for people who have never set danced before. You need to be familiar with the jargon, such as "roundthe house", "ladies chain", etc.

buy it
This is the best. If you want a reference for dancing, the one the teachers use, this is it. Buy it. There is none better. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Brilliant
This book shares remarkable insights on the choreographic works of Zora Neale Hurston. In her writing, Kraut skillfully recovers the invisibilized history and influences of Zora Neale Hurston's theatrical productions on the American dance scene in the 1930's. Kraut examines the manner in which Hurston utilized the rhetoric of authenticity to promote her stage renderings, distinguish her work from racist images of blackness, critique the commercial market, and negotiate issues of authorship. She also discusses the way in which Hurston navigated power struggles that surrounded her production of The Great Day and provides an in-depth analysis of the concert itself. In so doing, Kraut explores Hurstons' vision of black folk culture, the reception her work, and the racialized dynamics of the 1930's which served to obscure the influence of her work. Wonderful book for all!
... Read more

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"See the blazing Yule before us..." This is just one of the many ancient British folk songs we all know and love. Other tunes and symbols that tug on our memories have similar historical roots, hearkening back to a shared Pagan past. These dances, songs, and theatrical plays in the English folk tradition are now little known to most of the modern Pagan community. Reviving these vital traditions can bring new life to Renaissance festivals, neopagan rituals, and community events.

Introducing the lively music and homegrown entertainments of times long past, this descriptive how-to is designed for twenty-first-century joviality. The songs, dances, and plays of old are explained in their mythical, seasonal, and historical significance and outlined for easy reenactment. Simple-to-follow instructions detail six dances including the popular Abbots Bromley Horn dance, six full scripts for dramatic performances of Mummer's Plays (folk plays of death and rebirth), and over thirty songs with lyrics and music. Kick up your heels, hold high your skirts, and make merry the year through.

Customer Reviews (2)

Absolutely Delightful
Definitely a book I will come back to over and over again. Wonderful stories are told with published songs to match. The stories and songs in this book can easily be adjusted for your own practices, or kept as-is.

The Long Awaited Treasury Has Arrived!
A must-have reference guide that's destined to become one of the most beloved of reference texts, outlining these time-honored mythic dances for all to enjoy!

This glorious collection of native British dances is a treasure-trove of simple, easily understood directions and music. Oriented to the seasons, Bronwen Forbes leads us through the colorful traditions of British music history. And as a delightful surprise, tucked in the back are additional little dance gems, for a myriad of celebrations.

Brownwen Forbes has delivered to the pagan community the quintessential text on the songs, dances and folk plays of old Britain. ... Read more

Product Description
This guide gives you indispensable teaching tips for the following dances:

Hora (Israel)
Hukilau (Hawaii)
Savila Se Bela Loza (Serbia)
Virginia Reel (United States)
d’hammerschmiedsgselln (Germany)
Highlife (Ghana)
Alunelul (Romania)
Yanko (China)
El Jarabe Tapatio (Mexico)

For each dance, you’ll learn the country or region of its origin, the traditional costume of the dancers, a brief history of the dance, the difficulty level, stance and formation, directions for performing the dance, modifications, trivia tidbits, and much more.

Use this guide in combination with the companion video and music to learn about, experience, and appreciate the uniqueness of other cultures! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Multicultural Folk Dance
This is a great product.With the DVD, music CD and instructional booklet you have everything you need to teach your class some great multicultural folk dances.The DVD step by step dance instructions are performed by dancers in original costumes germane to the dance. ... Read more

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Throughout its history, the United States has become a new home for thousands of immigrants, all of whom have brought their own traditions and expressions of ethnicity. Not least among these customs are folk dances, which over time have become visual representations of cultural identity. Naturally, however, these dances have not existed in a vacuum. They have changed—in part as a response to ever-changing social identities, and in part as a reaction to deliberate manipulations by those within as well as outside of a particular culture. Compiled in great part from the author’s own personal dance experience, this volume looks at how various cultures use dance as a visual representation of their identity, and how “traditional” dances change over time. It discusses several “parallel layers” of dance: dances performed at intra-cultural social occasions, dances used for representation or presentation, and folk dance performances. Individual chapters center on various immigrant cultures. Chiefly the work focuses on cultural representation and how it is sometimes manipulated. Key folk dance festivals in the United States and Canada are reviewed. Interviews with dancers, teachers, and others offer a first-hand perspective. An extensive bibliography encompasses concert programs and reviews as well as broader scholarly sources. ... Read more