Step it up at The Evergreen State College’s Sean-nós Northwest Festival

If you have ever dreamed of visiting Ireland, the upcoming Sean-nós Northwest Irish Festival may be just the ticket. Local, national and international artists and teachers gather at The Evergreen State College April 14-15 to share their knowledge and love of traditional Irish music and dance.

Sean-nós translates to “Old Ways” in English and, this weekend, those old ways are alive and well in Olympia. Come and learn to sing a song in Gaelic, dance a jig, tell a story, cook a traditional Irish dish, or weave a Celtic pattern.

All Are Welcome

Now in its 11th year, the Sean-nós Northwest Irish Festival started as a loose gathering of teachers and students. “It was just one day and everything was together,” recalls Kimberly Goetz, festival director. “Everyone sat in a room and just talked about Irish stuff.”

This year, the Sean-nós Festival will host over 40 classes. From Friday night through Sunday afternoon, participants can attend eight hours of instruction, two jam sessions, a concert, meals and film. “We divided it into tracks: a language track, a singing track, a music, a dance and a culture track,” Goetz explains. “At any given time there are five classes to choose from.”

Even if you are a novice to the Irish tradition you can still find a class that suits you. “We try to always make sure at every single class section there is at least one class that is appropriate for an absolute beginner.” says Goetz. “Of course people are always welcome to sit in and listen if they aren’t comfortable to participate.”

Goetz, an Irish storyteller, is also leading a special half-day afternoon program for children this year. For $10 a child or $25 a family, your little ones can learn some Irish phrases, Irish dance steps and songs. Additionally, there will be storytelling, an Irish craft project (which they can take home) and a snack. Geared for children 6-years-old and older, Goetz hopes this introduction will ignite an interest in traditional Irish culture.

Sean Williams, president of the Irish Cultural Society of the Pacific Northwest (ICSPNW), was the catalyst for the first Sean-nós Festival in 2008. Williams is also a professor of Irish Studies and Ethnomusicology at Evergreen State College. At a recent Irish singing session (seisiún) at her home, many of the singers introduced themselves initially by their names and then by the year they studied under Sean’s

tutelage.

“I first became attracted to the Irish language because of the beautiful songs,” says Williams. “These songs were not available in English, and I knew that if the language died, the songs would be lost forever.” Williams went on to use songs to help students learn the language. “I found that as soon as my students sang songs with common words and phrases, their conversations became more coherent along with their pronunciation.”

Long-time festival attendee and Sean-nós singer, Janet Partlow, became interested in Irish music after she and her mother uncovered a photograph of her great grandmother, Ellen Slattery Partlow. “It planted a seed in me,” says Partlow. “I have a history. My family has a history.”

A folk singer, Partlow began searching the record bins uncovering Irish bands like 60s Irish folk group the Clancy Brothers. “It was a big step to start learning Irish language,” says Partlow, “and along with it then the Irish Sean-nós singing.”

Even Goetz began her relationship with the festival through a class with Williams. “I thought that I would like to properly pronounce all the names for the musicians I listened to so I signed up.” Williams laughs adding, “The rest, as they say, is history.”

Language, Dance, Music and Culture

Language, singing and dance, the three tenets of the Sean-nós Festival, have expanded to also include culture. Irish cultural classes can be anything from Irish cooking in one session, to storytelling, or even a hurling demonstration. This year, Williams will lead classes on cooking and traveling in Ireland. “I tend to favor the rocky coastal areas along the west,” says Williams. But to settle on a favorite Irish site, Williams uses her own personal guidelines. “They can be narrowed down to two types of places: anywhere there is a music session, and anywhere there is a megalithic ruin,” she says.

Two of the visiting teachers hail from the shores of western Ireland that Williams favors. Though local volunteer instructors are the backbone of the festival, renowned performers and teachers from around the country bring a wealth of talent to the event. Many, like fiddler Dale Russ, are returning instructors.

“My favorite part of teaching at the festival is the enthusiasm of the participants,” says Russ. “And the fact that it actually makes an attempt to bring the music and the dance together, much more than other festivals.”

The instructor line-up offers some of the best Irish performers from either side of the Atlantic in language, music, dance and art.

Gaeilge, or Irish Gaelic, will be taught this year by Fulbright scholar Orla Nic Thaidhg of Galway and Bob Burke, President of The North American Association for Celtic Language Teachers. Sean-nós singing by Máirín Uí Chéide Keady of Connemara and dancing by Jackie O’Riley and Alicia Guinn. Fiddle classes and Irish music history will be presented by Dale Russ, Pipes are with Joey Abarta and accordion classes from John Whelan. Celtic art will be taught by Jill Sattler and storytelling by Kimberly Goetz.

The Saturday night concert, An Irish Evening, requires separate tickets unless purchased with class registration at a reduced rate. This will be a full night of music, dance and storytelling from these exceptional performers. Cost is $20 adults and $15 for seniors and students.

For a whirlwind tour of Ireland, without leaving home, register online for the Sean-nós festival, April 14 – 15 at the Evergreen State College.