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One cue that this video isn't like ordinary instructional dance videos is the fact that the instructor,
Riverdance-featured dancer Colin Dunne, appears, not in a small dance studio, but on a real stage, around which are gathered real, expectant audience members. As it turns out, this video works best as a performance, not as a how-to guide. Dunne, handsome and animated, with flourishes to spare, is a lot of fun to watch--but only experienced dancers are likely to find this video truly instructional. Dunne's method is to slowly walk through each set of steps just once, and then the music revs up and the feet, as the saying goes, start flying (Dunne is accompanied by his accomplished Celtic Feet dancers). True beginners will be bewildered, although frequent use of the remote to rewind can help. And it is pretty dazzling to watch Dunne and his dancers when they really let loose--the compelling combination of still upper body and wildly flying legs and feet is irresistible. But those who really want to learn the steps themselves might also want to check out Seamus Kerrigan's
Irish Dancing Made Easy.
--Anne Hurley