Welcome to
Official website of Basingstoke Irish set dancers
“SetsMad Dancing” is the creation of Kevin and Carol Monaghan. It began life
as an event to showcase the less-often danced sets of Ireland. From the germ of an
idea inspired by a similar weekend in Manchester, UK, an entire weekend of
dancing in a beautiful rural setting has grown. It has continued to grow for many years, attracting dancers from far and wide to dance together to live bands in an atmosphere of joy and friendship.
Who are we?
Kevin and Carol met over 25 years ago in a set dancing class run by Joe O’Hara, a most particular and careful teacher, and they have been dancing together ever since. They are hugely grateful to Joe for being so keen to keep the regional styles of dance, and not homogenise the form, and they strive to be “in the right place, at the right time, and by the correct route” as Joe taught them.
Along with members of Basingstoke Irish Set Dancers, they have composed two sets which have been well received: The Wessex, named after the region of England in which most of the dancers live, and The Treacle Town, named for the town in which Carol and Kevin live, and the joke that treacle was mined in the area…
What do we do?
We run a weekly class every Thursday in Basingstoke Irish Centre - for details
In March of each year, the smaller of the two weekend events, known as the “Spring Thing” (or similar!) takes place with a large contingent of English dancers, and has over the years seen brush dances, unique waltzes and stepping workshops being taken by enthusiastic attendees.
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The “SetsMad” dance weekend each September is a really collaborative event, with the hall being decorated, marquees being erected and dismantled, cakes baked, cups of tea being made and everything tidied away with cooperation and enthusiasm by those attending the dance weekend who work tirelessly to make this event unique in the UK.
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There is a special relationship with teachers Padraig and Roisin McEneaney, and band “Rise the Dust” who have been teaching and playing at “SetsMad” events for at least 10 years, bringing an unrivalled joyous atmosphere to the weekend. “SetsMad” weekends have seen the launch of newly composed sets from both Padraig and the “SetsMad” team, highlighting the impact the events have on set dancers across the world.
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“SetsMad” is especially indebted to the special bond with the generations of dancers from the Czech Republic who have been attending and lending their unwavering support for at least 10 years; now bringing their own children to the event to ensure the tradition is continued...