Sweat on brow lines, hearts beating fast and feet moving faster, Irish set-dancing proved to be slightly more strenuous than many expected but well worth the workout.
"Well, it's not 'difficult,' but it definitely takes some learning," said Christopher Smith, Texas Tech professor and an organizer of the Irish set-dancing class. "The foot work especially, which is part of what makes it so great and adds such a great percussive feel to the sound of the music."
Smith said the Celtic art takes practice and study, and it is quite a workout.
"It'll make you sweat and get your heart-rate up," he said, adding that some of the greatest set-dancers he ever has met have been in their 70s and 80s and because of it have been "totally hale and hearty."
Smith said was introduced to Irish culture by listening to the music when he was a kid, and he has been playing traditional Irish music since then.
"I only saw the set-dancing that went along with the music much later," he said. "But when I did see the dancing, it was a revelation because I immediately understood the music as a player much better."
As a result, Smith said he wanted to learn more about the culture that his beloved music and dancing came from.
"As I studied and traveled in Ireland and played with Irish musicians, I also came to see Irish traditional culture," he said. "Like a lot of other traditional cultural systems from around the world, (it is) a much saner way to live: close to the earth, paying attention to one's neighbors, learning to create things for yourself rather than buying them, learning to do things instead of just voyeuristically watching things and so on."
The Irish set-dancing classes occur from 7 p.m. until after 8 p.m. every Monday night at J&B Coffee at 26th Street and Boston Avenue. Anyone who is interested in Irish culture, music or just those people looking for a new experience to fill a boring Monday night opening are welcomed to participate.
A few students participated in the class Monday night, saying the experience was exhilarating.
"I always saw (Irish dancing) in the Irish pubs in movies and films, it looked interesting, so I'm glad it's being done here in the states," said David Christenson, freshman constructional and technological engineering major from Odessa as he took a breather from the lesson. "It's actually quite enjoyable but not nearly as hard as I thought it would be."
Shannon Crenshaw, a senior music and political science major from El Paso, said she had been interested in the art for some time and felt her past experiences were helping her pick up the movements a little more rapidly.
"I went to Ireland a year and a half ago with Dr. Smith, so I was interested in learning more Irish dance," she said. "And I'm a musician, so I can kind of feel the beat, but it is definitely more of a workout than I thought it would be."
While instructing the class, Smith said he agreed Irish set-dance is without doubt something you have to follow the beat to advance.
"This is not one of those things you think your way through," he said.
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