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Irish Set Dancing in Milwaukee
Social Dancing for Adults
SPECIAL EVENT: Sets Off The Beaten Path
 Learn some set dances we don't do very often at this semiannual event.
Click for more info

New Set Dance Class Starts June 4, 2008

Weekly Dancing
Continues at
O'Donoghue's Irish Pub
Wednesdays
Open Dancing 7 p.m.
(7:30 when classes in session)

 Set Dance Classes

Gain the next level in set dancing at this class tailored for those who've had the introductory class, or those who have been dancing for a while. Starting June 4 (at 6:30 p.m.) and continuing for eight Wednesdays, we will be teaching and focusing on the movements, foot work and styling for the following sets:
  • The Clare Lancers (week 1-3)
  • Connemara Reel Set (week 4-6)
  • The Cashel Set (week 7 & 8)
No preregistration is required, and the fee is a low $3 per week!

For full details, download this detailed flyer or call Pat 262-352-4436, or e-mail to class@setmke.org

Following each class, open dancing will begin at about 7:30 p.m. Class participants are encouraged to join in the dancing (at no extra charge) throughout the evening.

 Weekly Dancing -- at O'Donoghues

Wednesday evenings. Dancing begins at 6:30, (7:00 during the summer.) We ask for a free-will offering of three dollars each week to offset our rental costs. This is waived for paid class participants. Please park on street or in lot behind the Elm Grove Inn. Set dancing is held year-round at at O'Donoghue's Irish Pub in Elm Grove. Periodic e-mail updates are sent throughtout the year. See Contacts to be added to our list.

This continues a long tradition of weekly dancing which began at Nash's Irish Castle in 1991. Nash's, alas, is no more, but this web page survives for now.

 Monthly Dances with Live Music

Regular dances are held on the fourth Saturday of the month (exceptions below) at the ICHC. Come at 7:00 p.m. to learn the Set of the Month. Dance to live music from 8:00 p.m. until 11:00. $8.00 free will offering requested. Tea and snacks are provided. Beer and soda are sold to benefit the ICHC. Please bring a treat to share if you can.

Date
Event Music  Set of the Month
May 10 Sets Off The Beaten Path
 Special Event  
May 24 Monthly Dance at the ICHC
 Áthas Fermanagh Set
June 28 Monthly Dance at the ICHC
 Maria Terres and Friends Kilfenora Set
July 26 Monthly Dance at the ICHC
 Rírá  
August 14-17 No monthly dance-
See you at Irishfest!		 Hundreds of bands!  
September 27 Monthly Dance at the ICHC Áthas  
October 25 Monthly Dance at the ICHC Asher Gray and Randy Gosa  
November 22 Monthly Dance at the ICHC Maria Terres and Friends  
December 27 (confirmed) Monthly Dance at the ICHC Rírá  
January 24 Monthly Dance at the ICHC TJ Hull & Friends  

 Other Set Dancing

Special Event: Sets Off the Beaten Path
If you are looking for some variety in your Irish set dancing, come join Milwaukee Set Dance Club members Michael and Gail McElroy for Sets Off the Beaten Path. The first of a semi-annual dance event, this dance session will focus on those great sets we don't get a chance to work on - some old, some new. Music will be recorded, all sets called.
Saturday May 10th 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM O'Donoghue's Irish Pub13225 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove, Wisconsin
A lunch break will be taken halfway through, with food and drink available for purchase from O'Donoghue's. Any questions, call Michael or Gail McElroy 262-662-5107.

Make it a two day dance event!
Join area dancers for Set dancing Friday evening May 9th at the Ardor Pub and Grill - 607 N Broadway in downtown Milwaukee. Athas will play for sets from 9:00 PM-Midnight
Finish off Saturday's dancing with our fellow set dancers in Cedarburg. Their Set Dance Ceili is later that night-- see below!

Selected other set dancing events:

Sets in the 'Burg: Classes and Ceilis in Cedarburg, information at this website. Events held at American Legion Post 288, Cedarburg. See the web site for details. Pre-registration for Classes suggested. Featured events:

  • May 10, 2008 (Saturday) - Set dance Ceili, live music featuring Áthás, with a lesson at 7:30 and the main event at 8 PM. American Legion Post 288, Cedarburg.
  • Open dancing every Monday, 8:30 - 9:30 | $3 - Location: Road House Bar and Grill, 5 Corners, Town of Cedarburg
Second Friday dances: ARDOR Pub, 607 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. Music by Áthás 9 pm–midnight, lesson 8 pm. More information here, or more specifically, here.

 Venues

The Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (ICHC) is at 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee (just west of Marquette U.). Click for map. Park free in lots off 23rd St. south of Wisconsin Ave. Westbound: take I-94 west to 25th St. Exit, Go north on 25th Street to Wisconsin Avenue. Then right (east) to 23rd Street.  Eastbound: take I-94 east to 35th St. exit, go north (left) to Wisconsin Ave., east to 23rd St. Parking is available in lots south (and slightly West) of the center. Take 23rd St. south to alley to enter.

The ICHC website is here.

O'Donoghue's Irish Pub is at 13225 Watertown Plank Road in Elm Grove. Click for map. If you are coming from the west, O'Donoghue's is less than two miles east of Brookfield Square (I-94). Exit I-94 and go north the next road after Bluemound Road (US 18). This is Watertown Plank Road. Then turn right and after you cross the RR tracks, look for the pub on the right just past the Elm Grove Inn.
Coming from the East: If you are going west on I-94 or I-894 take US 45 north (at the zoo interchange) to the Watertown Plank Road exit. Then go two miles west (left) on Watertown Plank. When you see a church just ahead, veer left and look for the pub on your left.

Parking is available on nearby streets and lots. Please use these rather than the lot adjacent to the pub.

O'Donoghue's web site is here.

 Bands

Here are the web sites of some of the bands and musicians that have played for us at our dances. Please support your local musicians!

Áthas Cé Ceol Caírde
Frogwater Rírá Public House Ceili Band

 Contact Us

Contact:    Pat at 262.352.4436
E-Mail:      info at setmke dot org  (Please replace the at with the symbol and omit the spaces.)

Mail List:    To be added to the e-mail list for periodic updates about set dance activities please send a note indicating your interest to list@setmke.org.

General set dance information is on the Web at www.setdancingnews.net

Updated on May 7, 2008