Chapter 1: Family Background and Early Dance Classes
Chapter Summary 00:00 / Part 1 - Family Background and Early Dance Classes Jimmy describes his family background in Tralee. He also recalls his first introduction to traditional Irish Dance at the age of six. 02:03 / Part 2 - Dance Classes with Irene Gould. Jimmy recalls his early dance classes with dance teacher Irene Gould and the influence that Fr Pat Ahern also had upon him. 05:13 / Part 3 - The Molyneaux Style of Dance Jimmy’s style of dance is, in the opinion of Fr Pat Ahern, very close to that of Jeremiah Molyneaux. Irene Gould, Jimmy’s former dance teacher, had learnt her dancing from Phil Cahill, a pupil of Molyneaux. 06:26 / Part 4 - Jimmy’s School Days Jimmy’s classmates accepted him as an Irish dancer. He also explains that, long ago in North Kerry it was mainly men, rather than women, who step danced.
Chapter 2: Jimmy's Career as Dance Teacher
Chapter Summary: 00:00 / Part 1 - Jimmy's Working Career At the beginning of his career Jimmy worked as a barber. He also taught dance part-time and performed with Siamsa Tíre. Jimmy eventually became a full-time dance teacher and today, over 56 years later, he is still teaching dance. 02:32 / Part 2 - Jimmy Explains the Reasons Why He Loves to Teach Dance Jimmy explains that, as a dance teacher, his ambition was always to share with his pupils the happiness he himself felt while performing on stage. 03:05 / Part 3 - Rinceoirí na Ríochta Jimmy eventually amalgamated his dance classes with those of another dance teacher, Honor Flynn. Together they formed the very successful, Tralee-based, dance school Rinceoirí na Ríochta (Kingdom Dancers). 05:38 / Part 4 - Eleven World Champion Dancers Under the stewardship of Jimmy and Honor Flynn the dance school Rinceoirí na Ríochta (Kingdom Dancers) has produced Eleven World Champion Dancers (up to 2024). With some humour Jimmy tries to define what makes a championship dancer. 07:38 / Part 5 - The Molyneaux Style and World Champions The Molyneaux Style of dance is instilled in the World Champion Dancers produced by Rinceoirí na Ríochta. The style was not, however, formerly acceptable in competitions. Instead, competitors had to adhere to the dance style laid down by 'An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha,' one of the main Irish step dance organisations. 09:00 / Part 6 - The 1983-1985 Dance Recordings Jimmy recalls that he was present when Catherine was recording the elderly pupils of Jeremiah Molyneaux during the 1980s. He recalls that he watched them as they danced for the recordings and and he tried to imagine how they might have danced the same steps when they were young. 09:54 / Part 7 - A Love Affair between Music and Dance Jimmy explains the process he uses to choreograph a step, drawing on material he learnt from Irene Gould and the Molyneaux Style. He also highlights the importance of the relationship between the music and the dance.
Chapter 3: Jimmy's Career with Siamsa Tíre, the Irish National Folk Theatre
Chapter Summary: 00:00 / Part 1 - The Early Days of Siamsa Tíre Jimmy holds Fr Pat Ahern (founder Siamsa Tíre) in very high regard. He recalls some of the early dance pieces produced by Siamsa Tíre, one of which was 'An Dreoilín' (wren bird). It referenced the calendar custom of the Wren Boys, formerly associated with St Stephen’s Day (December 26). Jimmy also recalls dancing before Éamon de Valera, President of Ireland. 02:26 / Part 2 - Touring the World with Siamsa Tíre Jimmy recalls the first tour of America by Siamsa Tíre in 1976. He remembers how unusual it was to be asked for autographs following their stage performances. 03:55 / Part 3 - Jimmy’s Favourite Siamsa Tíre shows Jimmy danced as Jeremiah Molyneaux in the show 'Ding Dong Dederó;' it marked the opening of the new Siamsa Tíre T'heatre, in Tralee, in 1991. He also describes 'Fadó Fadó,' the original, long-running stage show, which Siamsa Tíre toured America with in 1976. 07:02 / Part 4 - Jimmy’s Passion for Dance Continues to this Day Jimmy spent almost 40 years working with Siamsa Tíre from the age of 14. His passion for dance, together with the teaching of dance, continues to this day.
Dance Extracts
Jimmy danced this version of 'The Blackbird' set dance in the Siamsa Tíre show, 'Ding Dong Dederó' (1991).
Jimmy learned these three Jig steps for the Jack Lyon's piece in the Siamsa Tíre production, 'Sean agus Nua.'
These two treble reels Jimmy learned through Fr Pat Ahern and Siamsa Tíre.
Jimmy Smith dances the 'St Patrick's Day Set Dance'