The Clare Lancers Set is one of the most popular dances in the Irish Set Dancing repertoire. As the name suggests it hails from the Clare area on the mid-west coast of the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. Other published instructions for this dance include Larry Lynch's Set Dances of Ireland, Terry Moylan's Irish Dances, Pat Murphy's Toss the Feathers and Tom Quinn's Irish Dancing. Joe O'Hara, the Newcastle Irish Set Dancers and the Irish-American Lobby Education have versions this set online.

The following instructions for the Clare Lancers Set dance can also be found on the Newcastle Irish Set Dancers' website along with instructions for many more Irish Set Dances. They were copied here by the author of that page, Arthur Kingsland.

Formation

Square Set of four couples, Gents on the left of their partners. 1st Top Couple have their backs to the band, with 2nd Top Couple opposite them. 1st Side Couple are on the left of 1st Top Couple (when facing into the set) and 2nd Side Couple are opposite them (to the right of 1st Tops).

Steps

Traditionally the figures are danced with smooth flowing steps pushing flat along the floor and minimal heel lift.

Figure 1: Reels 160 bars

All Couples	Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under [8 bars] + Waltz hold - Swing [8 bars]	16 bars
1st Top Gent + Opposite Lady	Pass left shoulder to left in the centre [2 bars] + Turn clockwise [2 bars] + Swing [4 bars] + Finish with back to own position	8 bars
Top Couples	Square - Pass Opposite (right shoulder to right) + Change places with Partner (left shoulder to left) + Pass back (right shoulders) + Change places with Partner (left shoulders) + Finish in own position facing Corner	8 bars
All with Corners	Swing Corner + Finish facing Partner	8 bars
All Couples	Dance back to Partner [2 bars] + Swing Partner	8 bars
1st Top Lady + Opposite Gent	Pass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing	8 bars
Top Couples	Square	8 bars
All Couples	Swing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner	16 bars
1st Side Gent + Opposite Lady	Pass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing	8 bars
Side Couples	Square	8 bars
All Couples	Swing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner	16 bars
1st Side Lady + Opposite Gent	Pass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing	8 bars
Side Couples	Square	8 bars
All Couples	Swing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner	16 bars
All Couples	House the set doubling the last 2 bars	8 bars

Figure 2: Reels 192 bars

All Couples	Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing	16 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside [8 bars] + Right hand in right - Lady turns under 4 times while Gent dances on the spot	16 bars
1st Top Couple	Face each other - Pass right shoulders cross to opposite side + Turn clockwise + Pass Partner and cross with both Top Couples splitting to form Side Lines	8 bars
All Couples	Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place	8 bars
All Couples	Swing	8 bars
2nd Top Couple	House inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines	24 bars
All Couples	Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place	8 bars
All Couples	Swing	8 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines	24 bars
All Couples	Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place	8 bars
All Couples	Swing	8 bars
2nd Side Couple	House inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines	24 bars
All Couples	Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place	8 bars
All Couples	Swing + House the set doubling the last 2 bars	16 bars

Figure 3: Reels 144 bars

All Couples	Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing	16 bars
All Ladies	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Gents	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Couples	Gents form Left hand star in the centre and place right hand around Partner's waist - Wheel around + Belly to belly turn with Partner	8 bars
All Couples	Gents form right hand star with left hand around Partner's waist - Wheel around + Belly to belly turn with Partner to face into set	8 bars
All Couples	Big Christmas left for 8 bars + Jump to place left foot in on first beat of the next 8 bars + Big Christmas right	16 bars
All Couples	Swing Partner	8 bars
All Ladies	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Gents	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Couples	Gents form Left hand star and open ballroom hold with Partner - Wheel around + Belly to belly turn + Right hands across to Wheel back to place	16 bars
All Couples	Big Christmas left + Jump to change supporting foot + Big Christmas right	16 bars
All Couples	Swing + House the set doubling the last 2 bars	16 bars

Figure 4: Reels 192 bars

All Couples	Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing	16 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside	8 bars
Top Couples	Lead around clockwise (left first) through own position to meet the Couple on the left a second time	8 bars
All Couples	Tops with the Side Couple on their left - Right hand star + Left hand star	8 bars
All Couples	Remaining in groups of 4 - Little Christmas left [8 bars] + Break and Swing Partner back to place [8 bars]	16 bars
2nd Top Couple	House inside	8 bars
Top Couples	Lead around anticlockwise (right first) once + Meet Side Couple on the right	8 bars
All Couples	Tops with the Side Couple on their right - Right hand star + Left hand star + Little Christmas left + Swing Partner back to place	24 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside	8 bars
Side Couples	Lead around anticlockwise (left first) once + Meet Side Couple on the left	8 bars
All Couples	Sides with the Top Couple on their left - Right hand star + Left hand star + Little Christmas left + Swing Partner back to place	24 bars
2nd Side Couple	House inside	8 bars
Side Couples	Lead around anticlockwise (right first) once + Meet Side Couple on the right	8 bars
All Couples	Tops with the Side Couple on their right - Right hand star + Left hand star + Little Christmas left + Swing Partner back to place + House the set	32 bars

Figure 5: Reels 192 bars

In this dance at the end of the Chain the Couples line up forming a Column of 8 dancers with each Lady in front of her Partner in the following order: 1st the Dancing Couple / 2nd the Couple on their left / 3rd the Couple on their right / 4th the Couple opposite - All facing out from the Dancing Couples place.

All Couples	Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing	16 bars
All Couples (1st Tops)	Face Partner - Chain all round Ladies to the left / Gents to the right + Swing Partner one turn in Opposite position + Chain back to place and form Column facing out from 1st Top's position (1st Top Lady, 1st Top Gent, 1st Side Lady, 1st Side Gent, 2nd Side Lady, etc. with 2nd Top Gent last)	16 bars
All Couples	Ladies slip right / Gents slip left [4 bars] + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies (on the left) and Gents lines facing across the set	8 bars
Lines of four	Joining hands along the lines (and with the next set if possible) - Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Couples	Dance back and face Partner [4 bars] + Swing [4 bars]	8 bars
All Couples (2nd Tops)	Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (2nd Top, 2nd Side, 1st Side, 1st Top)	16 bars
All Couples	Ladies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines	8 bars
Lines of four	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Couples	Dance back and face Partner + Swing	8 bars
All Couples (1st Sides)	Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (1st Sides, 2nd Tops, 1st Tops, 2nd Sides)	16 bars
All Couples	Ladies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines	8 bars
Lines of four	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Couples	Dance back and face Partner + Swing	8 bars
All Couples (2nd Sides)	Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (2nd Sides, 1st Tops, 2nd Tops, 1st Sides)	16 bars
All Couples	Ladies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines	8 bars
Lines of four	Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Couples	Dance back and face Partner + Swing + House the set	16 bars

Web versions of this set

• Joe O'Hara's Irish Set Dancing website
• Arthur Kingsland's Newcastle Irish Set Dancers website
• Irish-American Lobby Education website.