The Fairy Ring Dance How To
Scottish country Ceili dance Fairy circle on Historically Accurate Princess Dances
For several years I have had the pleasure of teaching dance at the festival of Faerie in Layfette Colorado. This year I thought I would do an authentic faerie dance. I began researching fairy dances and found the fairy ring Scottish ceili dance. I was inspired to teach this dance with my favorite fairies, the blue fairy from Pinocchio, and Cinderella’s fairy godmother.
Legend of the Fairy Ring
The first thing that came up was about mushroom rings dubbed fairy rings. The legend is that circles of mushroom would pop up where fairies were dancing the night before. In Welsh culture to find a fairy ring was a sign of good luck. These fairy rings are believed to be gateways to the land of fey. If you stumble upon the fey folk dancing the ring into existence, you may lose track of time and be compelled to dance until you are exhausted.
Ceili Social Dance
Do you remember the wraiths in Brave? The Celtic tradition celebrated the land of Fey in music and dance. One of their popular Ceili dances is the fairy ring. I found this delightful social circle dance while digging around for fairy dances. The Scottish and country dance dictionary was a great resource for the instructions for this fun social dance. I have written my description so that non dancers may be able to experience this enchanted dance for themselves.
The Fairy Ring Dance How To
Join hands in a circle alternating elf’s and faeries (gentlemen and ladies or leaders & followers, you may even simply number partners 1’s and 2’s)
Circle-
Gallop (skip) to the left 8 counts (1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8- 8 being a whole beat and a stop to go the other direction)
Gallop (skip) to the right 8 counts (1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8- 8 being a whole beat and a stop to go the other direction)
1st Figure 8-
Faeries circle partner Elf to her left (8 counts) then figure 8 around the elf to her original right (8 counts) for a total of 16 counts, (skip it out, 1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8)
2nd Figure 8-
Elf’s circle Faerie to his right (8 counts) then figure 8 around the faerie to his original left (8 counts) for a total of 16 counts, (he can skip it out, 1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8)
Grand Chain –
Elf
Elf turns to his right offering his right hand first to fairy on his right-side shaking hands and pulling past, he then offers his free left hand to the next fairy to pull past. Do a total of 4 measures (1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8) or pass four faerie ready to begin from the top with a new partner
Fairy
Fairy turns to the Elf on her left offering her left hand to pull past (1&2) then offers her tight hand to pull past the next elf (3&4) repeat Left hand (5&6) and right hand (7&8)
Join hands in a circle to begin from the top. Repeat until the song ends.
Song
The song for this dance Is “The Fairy Ring” Performed by David Arkenstone on the album Celtic Journeys. We filmed the tutorial on location at adventures in dance. Faeries from the festival of Faerie in Layfette Colorado gathered to demonstrate what it looks like as a large group.
Pixie version of The Fairy Ring (simplified version)
Join hands in a circle alternating elf’s and faeries (gentlemen and ladies or leaders & followers, you may even simply number partners 1’s and 2’s)
Circle-
Sidestep or Grapevine to the left 8 counts
Sidestep or Grapevine to the right 8 counts
1st Fairy Circles Elf-
Faeries circle partner Elf to her left (8 counts) march it out one step per beat.
2nd Elf Circles Fairy
Elf’s circle Faerie to his right (8 counts) then figure 8 around the faerie to his original left, (he marches it out one step per beat 8 counts total)
Grand Chain –
Elf turns to his right offering his right hand first to fairy on his right-side shaking hands and pulling past, he then offers his free left hand to the next fairy to pull past. Do a total of 4 measures (1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,8). Pass four faerie ready to begin from the top with a new partner
Fairy turns to the Elf on her left offering her left hand to pull past (1&2) then offers her tight hand to pull past the next elf (3&4) repeat Left hand (5&6) and right hand (7&8)
Join hands in a circle to begin from the top. Repeat until the song ends.
Historically accurate princess dance
I have included this tutorial in my Historically accurate Princess dances for all those Fairy Godmothers and enchantresses. These fairies needed a gateway dance to make it to our world to make princess dreams come true. Celebrate the fun of fey with this fairy ring dance.
Cast:
Fairy Godmother- Holly Collins-Tomazin
Leprechaun- Craig Tomazin
Blue Fairy – Robyn Collins
Elf Lord- William Hooker
Thank you to the Extra’s from the Festival of Faerie in Layfette Colorado
Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
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Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
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Adventures in Dance
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Resources:
https://www.strangerdimensions.com/2014/03/17/fairy-rings-myth-nature/
https://gardencollage.com/inspire/wild-earth/myth-lore-fairy-ring/
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/fairy-ring.html
https://www.celtic-weddingrings.com/fairy-stories/king-of-the-fairies
