Keepers of the Steps

Keepers of the Steps Celebrating 150 years of Irish Dance in the San Francisco Bay Area! There most certainly was green among the gold in the hills of California in the mid-1800s.

Don’t miss this special exhibit exploring the roots, rhythms, and rituals of one of the most enduring traditions of our Irish heritage. The prospect of striking it rich during the Gold Rush was the hook needed to drive people to the west coast of a young nation—including the Irish! With their hopes of fortune, they brought their culture too. The centuries-old oral traditions of Irish music and dan

ce made their way to California and took root in growing communities. Irish dancing is a centuries-old tradition that continues to capture the hearts of dancers and onlookers alike. Long before gold was found in the hills of California—a couple of centuries to be precise—the Dancing Masters of Ireland were promoting the rich tradition of Irish Dance by traveling around Ireland, teaching their steps, and sharing their stories. This critical piece of our Irish heritage and history has evolved over the years into local dance schools in various regions around Ireland—and eventually around the world. Casual dance-offs or competitions at the crossroads of Ireland in the days of yore gave way to feisanna (Irish dance competitions). The entertainment industry has broadened the reach of the art form through massive stage shows like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance as well as through film and music. Our special exhibit aims to explore the people, places, and things that have sustained Irish dancing in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are ever grateful to the modern Dancing Masters who brought Irish Dancing to San Francisco and the Bay Area more than 150 years ago and created a rich legacy that thrives today through dance classes, competition, and cultural opportunities. To all the dancers who share in the joy of Irish Dancing, know that you are part of a long and storied tradition. And not unlike those Dancing Masters in 16th century Ireland you, along with your dance teacher, are the “Keepers of the Steps.”

08/12/2026

If you’re an Irish dancer who’s been online in the last couple of months, you’ve probably encountered the viral trailer for ‘That’s So Feis’, the new short film written by and starring Ali Hardiman.

The heartwarming comedy follows Gemma, a recently dumped millennial woman who is inspired to return to Irish dancing lessons to reclaim her sense of self.

“I really care about my culture and I really care about Irish dancing,“ Ali tells The Irish Dance Globe over Zoom not long after the film’s premiere at Galway Film Fleadh this summer. “It was really important to my family growing up.”

At the link, we hear about how Ali, daughter of renowned ‘Lord Of The Dance’ composer Ronan Hardiman, revisited her Irish dancing roots and recruited the talents of Foley Academy Of Irish dance to bring the joyful story to life ☘️🎀 https://irishdanceglobe.com/interviews/thats-so-feis-interview-ali-hardiman-i-really-care-about-irish-dancing/

Photography: Courtesy of Yes Perfect Productions
Words: Siobhan Cooney
Design: Colleen Falco/ Colleen Falco Artist
Editor-In-Chief: Hollie Geraghty

‘That’s So Feis’ is directed by Eileen Tracey and produced by .lenihan and .

08/08/2026
08/03/2026

It is 109 Days to the Western US Regional Oireachtas and it will be here before you know it! Please see these important dates below and mark your calendars. We will have plenty of updates forthcoming and we are very excited to welcome everyone to beautiful sunny Southern California!

07/30/2026

Did you know?💡

Up until 1943, there were no structures or guidelines in place that recognised the necessary skills and ability of an Irish dancing teacher. CLRG created a formal examination scheme for new teachers and adjudicators to ensure the future of Irish dance! 🇮🇪

Above is a first edition copy of Ár Rince Foirne (or, as it’s known today, Ár Rince Ceili), from the Cullinane Archive Collection housed at the Irish Traditional Music Archive on Merrion Square in Dublin, Ireland. 🌟

You can purchase your own copy of CLRG’s official ceili book at the link in our bio to study for your next exam. 📚

07/27/2026
07/07/2026
To all the dancers, teachers, and dance families headed to Orlando for the North American Irish Dance Championships, we ...
07/01/2026

To all the dancers, teachers, and dance families headed to Orlando for the North American Irish Dance Championships, we wish you the very best of luck! Dance well, make memories, and share your photos! (in the comments or email [email protected])

Thank you for all that you do to KEEP our tradition of Irish dance alive and thriving!

Irish Dancing Magazine

With much gratitude, Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures who have been supporting Irish dancers for ge...
06/21/2026

With much gratitude, Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures who have been supporting Irish dancers for generations. You are all KEEPERS!

Do you have an Irish dance dad/dancer photo to share? Drop it in the comments!

Address

2700 45th Avenue
San Francisco, CA
94116

Telephone

+14156612700

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