RAI RESEARCH SEMINAR

SEMINAR SERIES AT THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

“Play Music Without Dancers and It’s a Waste of Music”: Sounding Movements, Changing Contexts, and the Sean Nós Dancer

Dr Catherine Foley, University of Limerick

Wednesday 16 March at 5.30 pm

This seminar ethnochoreologically examines sean nós dancing, a solo, vernacular semi-improvisatory percussive dance practice performed to Irish traditional music. Sean nós literally means 'old style' and sean nós dancing is predominantly associated with the Conamara gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region on the west coast of Ireland. The seminar focuses on contexts of practice with particular reference to the emergence of new contexts of transmission and performance from the 1970s. It highlights concerns sean nós dancers have in relation to these developments in a context of globalisation and transnationalism. Within a practice that values individual expression, the seminar argues that current modes of formal transmission generate tensions within this community of practice.

This event is free, but tickets must be booked. To book tickets please go to http://foley.eventbrite.co.uk