Through Folk Dance children learn to dance some Irish dances and some folk dances from other traditions. 

It is important to remember that the emphasis should be on enjoyment in the dance and on full involvement by the children rather than mechanically concentrating on the movements involved in the dance.

Music should be carefully selected to allow children to enjoy lively rhythms at a pace which is appropriate for them to perform the dance.

A good guide is that at each class level children should learn to dance at least one folk dance from Ireland and one folk dance from another country

The table below shows a summary of folk dances listed in the primary school curriculum

The approaches and methodologies for PE, outlined in the PE ‘Teacher Guidelines’ on pages 42 -100 are an excellent reference for teachers in organising folk dance lessons.

Outline of a Westphalian folk dance ‘Come to Me’ for first and second Class

Outline of an Irish folk dance ‘An Damhsa Mór’ for first and second or indeed third and fourth class

Outline of an Irish folk dance, ‘The Haymakers Jig’ for fifth and sixth class

In addition the PSSI lessons on Dance for all class levels are an excellent resource for teachers and outline a comprehensive programme of work specific to each class lesson incorporating a variety of approaches and methodologies across the class levels.

Click to download further resources below, to support you in implementing folk dance.

• Tips for teaching dance: This handout provides practical tips for teachers in relation to teaching folk dance and also a suggested approach for teaching folk dances
• Skip to my Lou: The outline and words of ‘Skip to my Lou’, a dance suitable for the Infant classes
• The shoemakers Dance: The outline of the steps of the shoemaker’s dance, a Polish folk dance suitable for third and fourth classes
• Siege of Ennis/ Ionsaí na hInse The outline of the steps of an Irish folk dance, the Siege of Ennis, suitable for third and fourth classes
• La Vinca: The outline of the steps of an Italian folk Dance, La Vinca, suitable for fifth and sixth class
• French Peasant Dance: The outline of the steps of the French Peasant dance, suitable for fifth and sixth classes
• Rakes of Mallow: The outline of the steps of an Irish folk dance, suitable for fifth and sixth class
• Two hand reel: The outline of the steps of an Irish folk dance, suitable for fifth and sixth class
• Irish folk dance resource: This handout contains the steps of a variety of Irish and international folk dances with suitable dances for all levels from first to sixth class
• Folk Dance 2019 Booklet:  PDST Folk dance resource with warm up activities for dance, activities and progressions for a variety of folk dances including sean nós as well as examples of how fundamental movement skills can be embedded in folk dance.

The following music files are available to download (click to play/download):

• The music to accompany the folk dance ‘Come to Me’
• The music to accompany ‘the Cuckoo Dance’
• Geese in the Bog- suitable music to accompany a jig
• Folk Dance Playlist - Spotify - A spotify playlist has been created to support teachers in accessing accompanying music.  The Spotiify playlist can be accessed through this link after signing up to a free account.