Best foot forward

Wildwood Park

Fort Rouge

Fort Garry

Folks with a spring in their step who might want to try something new are invited to check out an upcoming Irish set dancing workshop on Nov. 29 and 30.

The upcoming workshop is presented the recreational Winnipeg Irish Set Dancers and the Flatland Ceili Band, and will be led by Maureen Mulvey-O’Leary, a guest instructor from Toronto.

Key organizer Jeremy Hull said the session is intended for beginners. While many people will be familiar with different types of Irish dancing — including the high-tempo, high-kicking performances that one might see at events such as Folklorama — Hull explained that Irish set dancing is “a more accessible kind of Irish dancing made for everyone,” which he describes as both fun and “user-friendly.”

Hull, a member of both the dancing group and the band, said a big part of Irish set dancing is the social aspect.

“It’s not so much for experts as for everyone,” said Hull, who lives in Wildwood Park. “There can be sets of two or four couples, so it’s kind of like square dancing in that sense — and it’s all done to Irish music.”

“I’d like to emphasize that this is geared to beginners,” he added.

The schedule for the Nov. 29 session at Churchill Park United Church (525 Beresford Ave.), includes registration and coffee at 9 a.m. The first workshop will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Live entertainment and a light lunch will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. A second workshop is scheduled from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Finally, a dance party with the Flatland Ceili Band will take place from 7 to 10 p.m.

The Nov. 30 session includes a third workshop (and review) from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at Fort Garry Community Centre (880 Oakenwald Ave.).

Hull said the workshop is affordable, as it’s being subsidized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, an international Irish cultural organization, as well as the band and set dancers.

Early bird pricing is available for those registering on or before Nov. 22. Email hull.jeremy@gmail.com or call 204-477-5981 for more information.