Triallta Irish Dance Company — Chicago & Southwest Suburbs, Illinois

Dancers’ Resources

Practice Music

A New List

If you only buy two Irish dance CDs, make it these two:

1. One More Time by the Culkin School. A fantastic CD that gives the each dance in two or three different speeds, so a practicing dancer can work their way up to the proper speed.
2. Top Box by Dean Crouch, a champ dancer and champ musician. You can find samples on Dean’s official website. I love his work – great for practice, fun for performances.

An Older List

1. Sets and Solos Volume II by Olive Hurley. Highly recommended: this CD has every type of tune a Beginning and Continuing Irish dancer needs.
2. A Collection of Irish Dance Music by Mike and Merv. Accordion and piano – a class staple.
3. Dance to the Music by Mike Schaeffer (the “Mike” from #2). Another class staple.
4. Music for Irish Dance by Pat King with Brian Grant. Another, more lighthearted class staple.
5. One More Time by the Culkin School. A fantastic CD that gives the each dance in two or three different speeds, so a practicing dancer can work their way up to the proper speed.
6. Irish Dance World and 100% Pure Irish Dance – The Show by the Bradley Brothers, or anything by Kin'sha, Beoga or Dean Crouch. Bored of just the accordion? These CDs have “showy” music, while keeping with traditional tunes and tempos. (Beoga changes time signatures throughout their songs, and is better suited for dancers who have learnt some hardshoe.)

Since we often learn CRN’s traditional steps in class, CRN's official CD of Irish dance music fit for their competitions, 100% Pure CRN, can be found at Ainm Music, based in Ireland. If enough people want to order it, Ashe can take one big order so we can save on shipping.

If you need help making the decision, I recommend the following CDs the most: Culkin's One More Time, 100% Pure CRN, and for a little show, Irish Dance World or Dean Crouch's Top Box.

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