The Antrim Square Set

The first time I danced The Antrim Square Set was at the Irish Set Dancing weekend in Yarmouth, Maine (related post), hosted by Cathy & Bill Gavin in April 20008. Tony Ryan was the workshop teacher for the weekend and he introduced The Antrim Square to the area; it had already been big in Ireland. Here are the set dancing notes to the Antrim Square set, a short description of each figure, and links to YouTube videos of the figures being danced.

Set Dancing teachers demonstrate The Antrim Square at the Tony Ryan workshop in Maine. Dancing from left: Pat & Barry Callahan (Rhode Island), Cathy & Bill Gavin (Maine), Tony Ryan (Ireland - white shirt) and Ger Cooney-Browne (Massachusetts), and unknown-to-me (sorry) [more photos here]

Antrim Square Set

Study Notes:
Antrim Square Study Notes - Newcastle Irish Set Dancers
Antrim Square Study Notes - Larry Taylor
some common abbreviations in set dancing notation (see short notes below)

Antrim Square Videos:

• Figure 1 - Instruction by Padraig & Roisin McEneany at Cape May / Rehoboth October 2008 by ceili308
• Figure 1 - Danced Padraig & Roisin McEneany at Cape May / Rehoboth October 2008 by ceili308
• Figure 1 - Vienna, Austria, workshop with Patrick O'Dean by Cuchullain10
• Figure 1 & 2 Patrick O'Dea teaches Antrim Square in Seattle February 2009 by MaryMcKibbon
• Figure 2 - Instruction by Padraig & Roisin McEneany at Cape May / Rehoboth October 2008 by ceili308
• Figure 2 - Danced  Padraig & Roisin McEneany at Cape May / Rehoboth October 2008 by ceili308
• Figure 3 - Instruction by Padraig & Roisin McEneany at Cape May / Rehoboth October 2008 by ceili308
• Figure 3 - Danced  Padraig & Roisin McEneany at Cape May / Rehoboth October 2008 by ceili308
• Figure 3 led by Patrick O'Dea in Seattle February 2009 by MaryMcKibbon

• Tractor Square Dance - The tractors are dancing! The beginning of this figure is identical to the "Big Square" in the Antrim

Short Notes:

Fig 1 (reel) Ladies Star , Gents Star,  Advance-Right Square
All: LAR in sweetheart hold,  pivot back & Swing.
Tops: Ladies Star (r-l), Gents Star (r-l). TCs House & Ballyvourney-style square (advance-right 1-2, 123, backup to opp & 1/2 house to home).
All:  Big Square (tops advance / sides retire), reverse & Swing.
Sides: Ladies Star, Gents Star , Sides House & BV-style sq.
All: Big Square (sides advance / tops retire), reverse & Swing; House.

Fig 2 (jig) Crossovers & Basket
All:  LAR in sweetheart hold,  pivot back & Swing.
Tops: Ladies cross, gents cross, ladies cross back (& move into the center) gents cross back (& move into the center), Basket (swing-4) & Swing.
All: Big Square (tops advance / sides retire), reverse & swing.
Sides: Ladies cross, gents cross, basket & swing.
All: Big Square (sides advance / tops retire), reverse & Swing; House.

Fig 3 (polka) Slide & Change; Swing Corners, Swing Partners
All: LAR in sweetheart hold,  pivot back & Swing.
Tops: Slide & Change, Swing Corners, All Swing Partners.
All: Big Square (tops advance / sides retire), reverse & swing.
Sides:  Slide & Change, Swing Corners, All Swing Partners.
All: Big Square (sides advance / tops retire), reverse & Swing; House.