Sean Nos Baltimore

Sean Nos dance is a close to the floor, battering style of Irish step dancing. The term "Sean Nos" is Irish gaelic and translates as "old style". Sean Nos dance is the oldest style of Irish step dancing.

Sean Nos is a solo style of percussive dance focusing on rhythm, improvisation, and personal style. No partner is needed to dance Sean Nos, just your feet, a bit of rhythm, and a good sense of fun!

Playful interaction is common when several Sean Nos dancers share the floor; the steps can also be incorporated into traditional Irish set dancing.

DANCE LESSONS Winter 2009 (Jan - March)

Sean Nos Dance Classes will be taught at J. Patrick's Irish Pub, located in Locust Point in Baltimore, Maryland. Google Map

Class will be held on Tuesdays from 8 - 9pm, with a traditional Irish music session to follow from 9-12pm... the perfect opportunity to practice your new steps to live music!! Start date is January 6th and will run 10 weeks. Cost will be $7 per class for 10 weeks, or $10 per class drop-in. Stop by the first two weeks to try it out at the weekly rate.

Steps taught during each session are not necessarily progressive- all interested dancers are welcome to attend every class.

No previous dance experience is necessary, and experience in any and all styles of dance is welcome. Come join our dance community!

For more information or to register for class, please contact info@seannosdancebaltimore.com

Teaching: Kelly Smit

Kelly has a well-rounded dance background, including ballet, jazz, and modern dance, Lithuanian Folk Dance, smooth and rhythm styles of competitive ballroom, and Argentine Tango. As a Sean Nos dancer, Kelly has learned from, performed with, or shared steps with Sean Nos dancers in Portland, OR, Washington, D.C., Kauai, HI, Milwaukee, WI, Boston, MA, and Charlottesville, VA, and in Ireland in Tralee, Ros Muc, Ennis, Kilfenora, and Galway. Kelly has performed at Celtic and Irish Festivals locally in Maryland and Viginia, for Percussive Dance Showcases, and at venues on both the East and West Coasts. She provided "feet" for The Magic Square at their CD launch in Portland, OR. She performed at The Kennedy Center Millenium Stage with the group Sean Yes (search for September 30, 2007 in the Millenium Stage Archives to see a video of the performance!).

Kelly dances and teaches steps to all types of Traditional Irish Music (reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, waltzes etc.).

To schedule a Sean Nos Dance workshop, please contact danceworkshop@seannosdancebaltimore.com.

Please note that this site is (still!) under construction!! Plans are in the works for a message board for members of the Sean Nos dance community in Baltimore, as well as an online archive of steps for students. Check back soon!