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What is Green Steps?
Green Steps is an Irish dance ensemble based in Denmark, performing modern Irish step dance in original choreography. According to the group's own description, its dancers work in both hard shoes—where they produce percussive rhythm sequences—and soft shoes, where they perform high, graceful jumps. Repertoire follows traditional Irish forms: jig, reel, hornpipe and slip jig, with arms held close to the body while the energy comes out through fast footwork. The stated aim is to combine the visual and the musical, so the dancing reads as both a spectacle and a rhythmic accompaniment.
What the group actually offers
- Stage shows. "Grá" is a full music-and-dance production drawing on Irish landscape and mythology, blending traditional folk melodies with new arrangements and new choreography. It is built from short stories told through song, music and dance, with five dancers, a live orchestra and singer/flute player/choreographer Marianne Green, who created the show.
- Concerts with a band. Green Steps performs alongside The Early House, a quartet of fiddle, harmonica, bodhrán and vocals/guitar, described as high-energy and full of swing, with the dancers performing original choreography to the band's music.
- Bookings for events. The ensemble takes bookings for corporate and private events, with or without a live band, and can add a session teaching Irish social dance—useful for a reception or team event where you want guests participating rather than only watching.
- Irish-themed evenings. A combined "Irish night" format pairs the band and dancers for venues or organisations building an event around Irish culture.
Who it suits, and the trade-offs
| If you are… | Green Steps fits if… | Consider instead or in addition if… |
|---|---|---|
| An event planner wanting a headline act | You want a ready-made stage show with live music and a clear cultural theme | Your audience expects mainstream pop or a DJ-led night |
| A company organising a staff event | You want performance plus optional dance instruction for participation | The group is large and the budget only covers a short performance slot |
| A theatre or cultural venue | You want a narrative production ("Grá") rather than a short set | You need a strictly traditional, competition-style dance display |
| A private host (wedding, anniversary) | You want a compact ensemble with or without a band | You need amplified sound and a large stage—check space and technical needs first |
The main trade-off is specialisation: this is Irish dance and Irish traditional music, so its appeal depends on an audience that enjoys that idiom or an occasion built around it. A pure step-dance set is visually striking but rhythm-led; the "Grá" format adds story, song and orchestra, which is richer but requires more production.
Next step: decide which format matches your event—short performance, band-plus-dancers concert, or the full "Grá" production—then send a booking enquiry through Green Steps stating date, venue size, whether you want the live band, and whether you want the Irish social dance teaching included. Those four details will determine feasibility and scope faster than anything else.
What does a Green Steps Irish dance and music performance include?
A Green Steps performance combines Irish step dance with live Irish music, and the format changes depending on what you book. According to the company's own description, dancers in hard shoes perform rhythmic step sequences, while in soft shoes they move into high, graceful jumps set to traditional tunes: jig, reel, hornpipe and slip jig. Arms are kept close to the body, with the energy released through fast footwork—so the appeal is as much visual and rhythmic as musical.
The main formats described
- Concert with The Early House: A joint show pairing Green Steps with the band The Early House, described as high-energy Irish music with plenty of swing. The band is listed as Paddy Lawless on fiddle, Joel Andersson on harmonica, Martin O'Hare on bodhrán, and Doyle on vocals and guitar. Green Steps performs modern Irish step dance in original choreography to the band's music.
- "Grá" stage production: A music-and-dance show drawing on Irish landscape and mythology, blending traditional folk melodies with new arrangements and new dance choreography. It is built from short stories told through song, music and dance, with five dancers, a live orchestra, and Marianne Green—described as an acclaimed singer, flute player, choreographer and dancer—behind the production.
- Events and private bookings: Performances for corporate or private events, with or without a live band, and optionally including a lesson in Irish social dancing (céilí-style group dance). Booking is handled through a request form on the site.
Choosing between them
| If you want… | Consider |
|---|---|
| A full seated theatre experience with a narrative arc | "Grá" |
| A lively concert feel with a band front and centre | The Early House collaboration |
| Audience participation at a company or private event | The event format with the optional dance lesson |
For a corporate party or wedding, the event format with the dance lesson is usually the safer choice: it gives guests something to do rather than only watch, and it works in venues without a proper stage. For a theatre programmer or a festival audience, "Grá" offers a defined running order and a live orchestra, which is easier to market as a cultural evening.
As a next step, decide whether you need a fixed production or a flexible booking, then send a booking enquiry with your date, venue size and whether you want the band and the dance lesson included—those three details will determine which format the company proposes.
Can I book Green Steps for a corporate event or private party?
Yes. Green Steps can be booked for corporate events and private parties, with or without a live band, and with the option of Irish social dance instruction as part of the booking. The group performs modern Irish step dance in original choreography, combining hard-shoe rhythm sequences with soft-shoe jumps, set to traditional forms such as jigs, reels, hornpipes and slip jigs.
What a booking can include
- A performance set by the Green Steps Irish Dance Ensemble.
- A live band option: The Early House (fiddle, harmonica, bodhrán, vocals and guitar) for a full Irish music-and-dance concert format.
- Audience participation: tuition in Irish social dance, useful for corporate team events, anniversaries or parties where you want guests involved rather than just watching.
- A theatrical alternative: the show Grá, with five dancers, a live orchestra and singer/flute player Marianne Green, if you want a staged production rather than a party act.
Which format fits which occasion
| Occasion | Sensible starting point |
|---|---|
| Corporate reception or gala | Ensemble performance, with or without band, depending on stage and budget |
| Private party or milestone celebration | Performance plus a short social-dance workshop to get guests moving |
| Cultural or theatre-style event | Grá or the full concert with The Early House |
| Mixed audience unfamiliar with Irish dance | Band-led set, since the music carries the rhythm for newcomers |
Next step
Use the booking enquiry form on Green Steps and state your event date, venue, expected audience size, whether you want the band, and whether you want dance tuition. Those four details will get you a far more useful reply than a general availability question.
What is the 'Grá' Irish music and dance show about?
Grá is a staged Irish music-and-dance production by the Green Steps dance company, built around a journey into Ireland's green hills and its fairy-filled mythology. According to the show description on Green Steps, past and present blend as traditional Irish folk melodies are reinterpreted and paired with new dance choreography. Rather than one continuous story, the evening is made up of small tales told through song, music and dance.
On stage, five dancers perform alongside a live orchestra, with singer, flute player, choreographer and dancer Marianne Green—described as acclaimed by reviewers—behind the production. The dancing mixes energetic Irish step in hard shoes with softer, more graceful soft-shoe pieces, moving to traditional rhythms such as jig, reel, hornpipe and slip jig.
Who it suits
- Audiences curious about Irish culture who want music and dance in one seated performance rather than a pub-style session.
- Families and groups looking for a narrative, theatrical evening rather than a pure dance showcase.
- Event organisers considering a cultural centrepiece; the same ensemble also offers separate bookings with or without a live band, and optionally Irish social-dance teaching.
What to weigh
If you want the pure rhythmic spectacle of step dance, the standalone Green Steps ensemble sets may fit better; Grá adds song, storytelling and a full orchestra, which makes it richer but less dance-focused. If you are deciding between the two, check whether the venue is presenting Grá as a full theatre production or booking the ensemble for a shorter event appearance, since the format changes the experience substantially.
Who performs with The Early House band at a Green Steps Irish night?
At a Green Steps Irish night or concert, the performance combines two groups: The Early House band and the Green Steps Irish Dance Ensemble.
The Early House consists of Paddy Lawless on violin, Joel Andersson on harmonica, Martin O'Hare on bodhrán, and Doyle on vocals and guitar. Green Steps performs modern Irish step dance in original choreography set to the band's music.
For a booker planning an Irish-themed corporate or private event, the practical value is that one booking can cover both live music and dance, with the option of adding instruction in Irish social dancing. If you need a fuller stage production rather than a mixed music-and-dance night, Green Steps also presents Grá, a music-and-dance show featuring five dancers, a live orchestra, and performer Marianne Green. To decide between the two formats, ask whether you want a flexible event package (the Irish night with The Early House) or a scripted theatre-style performance (Grá).
Does Green Steps offer Irish social dance classes or workshops for groups?
Yes. Green Steps explicitly lists teaching in Irish social dance (irsk fællesdans) as an option when the ensemble is booked for corporate or private events, alongside a performance with or without a live band.
What that means in practice
The page describes a bookable package rather than a published public class schedule: a performance by the Green Steps Irish Dance Ensemble, with the option of adding group instruction in Irish social dance. The ensemble performs modern Irish step dance in original choreography, in hard shoes for rhythm sequences and soft shoes for higher, graceful jumps, to jigs, reels, hornpipes and slip jigs.
A concrete scenario: a company planning an Irish-themed staff evening could book the dancers for a short show and then have guests learn a few social dances together — a format that suits mixed-ability groups because social dance does not require step-dance technique.
Decision criteria
- Group size and space: social dance needs a clear floor area for couples or sets; confirm the room and headcount when enquiring.
- Performance vs participation: decide whether you want a show, a workshop, or both, since the page presents teaching as an add-on to a booking.
- Live music: the ensemble can appear with or without a band; for a fuller Irish evening, the page also describes a joint concert format with the band The Early House.
- Audience type: corporate events and private celebrations are the uses named on the page.
Next step
Use the booking enquiry link on Green Steps and state your date, venue, number of participants, and whether you want the social dance teaching included. For context on the Irish dance tradition itself, Irish Dance is a useful reference.
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