About Irish Dance
Irish dance reached the peak of its popularity through internationally widely known shows such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. These famous shows, however show only one side of irish dance. Traditionally, irish dances can be divided unto three subtypes: céilí, stepdance, and set dances.
Céili dancing
Céilí dances represent informal tradition of irish social dance. One interpretation of the word suggests céilí comes from le cheile, which means a gathering of the neighbours in one's house to spend the evening together while chatting, singing and dancing. Accodring to one legend, these social gatherings were used to be on squares, and all villagers, including unmarried and unengaged were allowed to dance. This however annoyed strict catholic priests, and such gatherings were later moved inside villagers' houses. Dance Masters of that time came up with various forms of dance to keep the public interested: céilí dances in round, row and square shapes were invented. |
Another interpretation suggests céilí were invented by Dance Masters during 17th century, when Irish culture was prohibited by the British. These dances were invented, so that weaker pupils would not feel excluded, and everybody could participate. You can read more about this version here.
Step dancing / stepdance
Irish step dancing developed in the 17-18th centuries with the help of Dance Masters, who traveled from village to village, sometimes accompanied by a piper or a violinist, and gave lessons to all interested. The oldest preserved tradition of step dance is called sean nós. Today, step dancing has developed into modern Irish stepdance. Stepdance requires either soft or hard shoes, and can be performed as solo dance or in groups. |
Set dancing
Set dances are based of French quadrilles, and are traditionally danced in square sets of four coulpes. Each dance consists from a number of figures that can be repeated until the music stops. While céilí dances are generally universal in all parts of Ireland, set dances may vary between the regions. At present, one can count up to 100 different set dances, developed in different parts of Ireland. |
Dancing in a Competition
In the competitions, irish dances are categorized in a different way: individual, or solo dances in soft shoes, solo dances in hard shoes, and figure / group dances.
Soft shoe solo dances
There are two types of soft shoe dances - reels and jigs. Both also give a name to a distinctive type of Irish traditional music. Reels have a 2/4 or 4/4 (sometimes 2/2) time signature. Jigs are in 6/8 or 9/8 time. At competitions, three types of soft shoe jigs are danced: light ("easy") jig, single ("hop") jig and slip jig. Slip jigs are the lightest and most graceful of the soft shoe dances and are also known as Irish ballet (in 9/8 time).
These dances are danced by ladies in black leather lace-up shoes, called pumps, pomps, or ghillies, and by gents in black leather shoes that look like jazz shoes with heels, called reel shoes.
Soft shoe solo dances
There are two types of soft shoe dances - reels and jigs. Both also give a name to a distinctive type of Irish traditional music. Reels have a 2/4 or 4/4 (sometimes 2/2) time signature. Jigs are in 6/8 or 9/8 time. At competitions, three types of soft shoe jigs are danced: light ("easy") jig, single ("hop") jig and slip jig. Slip jigs are the lightest and most graceful of the soft shoe dances and are also known as Irish ballet (in 9/8 time).
These dances are danced by ladies in black leather lace-up shoes, called pumps, pomps, or ghillies, and by gents in black leather shoes that look like jazz shoes with heels, called reel shoes.
Hard shoe dances
Hard shoes sound and operate in a way similar to tap shoes, however they are distinctive Irish dancing. The shoes have a fiberglass tip and a heel, which are both used in creating a rhythm in a dance. Dances for hard shoes divide on solo dances and traditional standartized set dances (which are also individual dances, despite having the same name as group dances). In competitions, most common solo hard shoe dances are heavy ("treble" / "double") jig (in 4/4 time signature) and hornpipe (in 2/4 or 4/4 time signature). Traditional set dances are standartized dances that are preserved the same regardless of dancing school or region. There are about 30 traditional set dances, of which most frequently performed are St. Patrick's Day, Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, Garden of Daisies, Kind of the Fairies, and Jockey to the Fair.
Figure / céilí dances
This is the only category of competition dances that assumes hand movement. Figure dances may be standartized or not standartized. Standatrized céilís are precise versions of traditional pub dances, danced by 4, 6 or 8 people. There is a list of 30 standatized céilís, published in An Coimisiun's Ar Rinncidhe Foirne. For example, High Cauled Cap is an eight-hand reel, and Trip to the Cottage is an eight-hand jig. Not standartized figure dances are choreographies, such as two- or three-hand reels, created by irish dancing schools, and distinctive for each school. These dances may include as little as 2 or 3 dancers.
Hard shoes sound and operate in a way similar to tap shoes, however they are distinctive Irish dancing. The shoes have a fiberglass tip and a heel, which are both used in creating a rhythm in a dance. Dances for hard shoes divide on solo dances and traditional standartized set dances (which are also individual dances, despite having the same name as group dances). In competitions, most common solo hard shoe dances are heavy ("treble" / "double") jig (in 4/4 time signature) and hornpipe (in 2/4 or 4/4 time signature). Traditional set dances are standartized dances that are preserved the same regardless of dancing school or region. There are about 30 traditional set dances, of which most frequently performed are St. Patrick's Day, Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, Garden of Daisies, Kind of the Fairies, and Jockey to the Fair.
Figure / céilí dances
This is the only category of competition dances that assumes hand movement. Figure dances may be standartized or not standartized. Standatrized céilís are precise versions of traditional pub dances, danced by 4, 6 or 8 people. There is a list of 30 standatized céilís, published in An Coimisiun's Ar Rinncidhe Foirne. For example, High Cauled Cap is an eight-hand reel, and Trip to the Cottage is an eight-hand jig. Not standartized figure dances are choreographies, such as two- or three-hand reels, created by irish dancing schools, and distinctive for each school. These dances may include as little as 2 or 3 dancers.
Rhythm
By rhythm, irish dances can be classified to reels, jigs (several types of jigs), and hornpipes.
Reel
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Reel s a dance type as well as dance tune type. It has most oftenly 4/4 time signature, but sometimes also 2/2 or 2/4 time signature. Reel is typical for both Irish and Scottish traditional dancing. Easy reel, danced in soft shoes, is one of the first dances taught to the beginner. Treble reel is danced in hard shoes to reel music.
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Jig
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Jig is one of the oldest survived forms of dance music. It appears as easy / light jig (6/8), slip jig (9/8) and single / hop jig (6/8) in soft shoe dances, and as treble / heavy / double jig (6/8) in hard shoe dances.
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Hornpipe
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Hornpipe, as well as reel, has a 2/4 or 4/4 time signature, but it differs from the reel tune in stressing the first and third beat notes.
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Info sources: Irish dance club Rinceoirí, Prague, Cairde Rince Ceilí na hÉireann, Wikipedia here and here.
Pictures from Broadway/San Diego Blog, Peevish mama, London Dancewear Blog and Conservapedia: Irish Dance. Main picture by Juuso Haarala.
Pictures from Broadway/San Diego Blog, Peevish mama, London Dancewear Blog and Conservapedia: Irish Dance. Main picture by Juuso Haarala.