Calling ballroom dancers with song question

Slainte · ‎03-16-2010

My son and I will be doing the groom-mother dance at his wedding to "Star of the County Down," an old Irish song done with an upbeat tempo. What dance steps, walz, polka, foxtrot, etc., would work well with this song. Neither my son or I are dancers so we need something simple. Not much time to practice beforehand , either. Any help appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMRjUqrpWVs

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

This has a very fast beat. I do love it but I would do a Two-Step which is a fast modification of the Foxtrot. I don't think a waltz would work. Or you could do a jive (swing, jitterbug). So fast. Any chance you could select a simple waltz and then do this after? Best I can tell you. Texas Two-Step as well. But your choices have to be fast, very fast.

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

I would vote for the Polka. Easy to learn and you can do it as fast (or slow) as you need to, for the beat of the music.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

tedEbear · ‎03-22-2015

@Slainte---Can you do ANY kind of jig or clog? It is an Irish tune after all. Who picked the song? Nothing other than dancing an Irish dance seems right to me, but that is my Irish coming out. Let us know what you do!

SaRina · ‎04-17-2015

I just listened to the song on Youtube. It's in 3/4 time, so either a waltz or a polka step would work.

The waltz step would not be a traditional even-tempoed 1,2,3...1,2,3. It would be more like a One...23 One......23 with the emphasis on the one and the 2 and 3 steps faster and close together. Your first step would be the long one, followed by two short ones, if that makes sense.

For this reason, a polka step may be easier. Although the song is on the fast tempo side, the polka would actually be a slower polka than usual, which would be good: 1,2,3, hop.........1,2,3,hop. It is more even-tempoed than the waltz step would be, and the fact that there is a hop at the end is a little reminiscent of an Irish jig, at least IMO. I'd go with the polka.

Azcowgirl · ‎04-10-2012

If you listen to Roger Whittaker's version of the song, ( considerably slower) I think a waltz would work nicely with it . Have fun , I think it will be very nice !

SaRina · ‎04-17-2015

@Azcowgirl wrote:
If you listen to Roger Whittaker's version of the song, ( considerably slower) I think a waltz would work nicely with it . Have fun , I think it will be very nice !

That's a nice version too -- it sounds to me like it's in 4/4 time, though -- which means if you did a waltz step, it would be even-tempoed, but there would be a paused step on the last beat. 1,2,3,pause.......1,2,3,pause, which seems a bit awkward. So you could just slowly sway side-to-side on this version, which may actually be nicer for a mother/groom dance.

Azcowgirl · ‎04-10-2012

SaRina......you're right.Good point !

Stray · ‎04-20-2013

@Slainte wrote:
My son and I will be doing the groom-mother dance at his wedding to "Star of the County Down," an old Irish song done with an upbeat tempo. What dance steps, walz, polka, foxtrot, etc., would work well with this song. Neither my son or I are dancers so we need something simple. Not much time to practice beforehand , either. Any help appreciated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMRjUqrpWVs

I don't know how much time you have but I don't think ballroom fits....it's lovely but not too danceable. A two step is closest but it's Irish and would lose its meaning....why don't you call an Irish organization and ask about Irish dance studios that can teach you something authentic and customary to dance to such a tune.

Slainte · ‎03-16-2010

Thanks so much for all of your comments! I would love to do a more traditional Irish dance, but it's just not feasible. I will see my son, who lives 500 miles from me, a day before the wedding, a packed day with no time to practice. The song has to be very simple, so I think the polka will be the easiest to manage. Thanks again for your suggestions.