Irish dance

Irish dance comes in several forms, which can broadly be divided into social dances and performance dances. Irish social dancing can be divided further into céilí and set dancing, though the boundaries between the two are rather indistinct. Irish set and céilí dances are usualy danced by couples arranged into formations (sets); frequently squares of four couples, but many other formations are found, also. Irish social dance is a living tradition, and variations in the way a particular dance is danced are found across the Irish dance community; in some places, dances are deliberatley modified and new dances are written.

Irish performance dancing is usually referred to as stepdance. Irish stepdancing has been recently popularized by the world-famous show "Riverdance" and its followers. Aside from public dance performances, there are also stepdance competitions in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and North America. Most competitive stepdances are solo dances, though many stepdancers also perform and compete using traditional set and céilí dances. When performed as a solo dance, it is generally characterized by a stiff upper body and the quick and precise movements of the feet.

The dancing traditions of Ireland probably grew in tandem with traditions of Irish traditional music. The very first roots were in Pre-Christian Ireland, but Irish dance was also partially influenced by dance forms on the Continent, especially the quadrille dances. Traveling dancing masters taught all over Ireland as late as the early 1900s.

Irish céilí dance

Irish social, or céilí', dances vary widely throughout Ireland and the rest of the world. A céilí may be performed with as few as four people and as many as sixteen. The Irish word "céilí" has no precise English word that means quite the same thing; "party" is the closest English can come. These dances are meant more for socialization and fun than as an athletic and competitive form. But the céilí dances are still fast-paced and may be quite complicated. In a social setting, the céilí may be "called" -- that is, the upcoming steps are announced during the dance for the benefit of newcomers.

Some of the céilí dances are named after the traditional Irish tunes to which they are most-frequently danced, others after the region of Ireland they were developed in, and others indicate the kind of music and/or the sizxe of the dance. Most céilí can be done to any tune of the appropriate time (jig or reel). The céilí dances were heavily influenced by French quadrille dances, and many are danced in the same formation, but many are danced in longways sets or sets of different sizes. Céilí dances are among the ancestors of the North American square dance.

Irish stepdance

Main article: Irish stepdance

Roots of Irish stepdance

Irish dancers at St. Patrick's Day parade in Fort Collins, Colorado

Stepdancing as a modern form is descended directly from sean nós ("old style") stepdancing. There are in fact many other forms of stepdancing in Ireland (such as the Connemara style stepdancing), but the style most familiar is the Munster, or southern, form, which has been formalized by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, which first met in 1930. An Coimisiún was formed from a directorate of the Gaelic League during the so-called Modern Revival.

Irish stepdance has very precise rules about what one may and may not do and when, but within these rules there is almost infinite room for variety and innovation. Thus, Irish stepdancing is a vibrant and constantly evolving art form.

Dances

Irish solo stepdances fall into two broad categories based on the shoes worn: hardshoe and soft shoe dances.

"Reel", "slipjig", "hornpipe", and "jig" and "Set Dance" are used to define dances, but refer in fact to types of Irish traditional music. Reels are in 2/4 or 4/4 time. Slip jigs are in 9/8 time, and are considered to be the lightest and most graceful of the dances. Hornpipes can be in 2/4 or 4/4 time, and are danced in hard shoes. There are three jigs danced in competition, the light jig, the single jig and the treble (or double) jig. Light and single jigs are in 6/8 time, and are soft shoes dances, while the treble jig is hard shoe, danced in a slow 6/8.

Each step is a sequence of foot movements, leg movements and leaps, which lasts for 8 bars of music for the "right foot" and is repeated for the "left foot" of the step. Hardshoe dancing includes clicking (striking the heels of the feet against each other), trebles (the toe of the shoe striking the floor), and stamps (the entire foot striking the floor).

The céilí dances used in competitions are bouncier and more precise versions of those danced in pubs and church basements. There is a list of 30 céilí dances which have been standardized and published in An Coimisiun's "Ar Rinncidhe Foirne" as examples of typical Irish folk dances; these are called the "book" dances by competitive stepdancers.

Shoes

Some of the footwork of softshoe dances is echoed in the footwork of Scottish country dancing, though the two styles are distinct. American tap dance was also influenced by Irish Stepdancing. Unlike softshoe dancing, hardshoe dancing involves rhythmic and very fast striking of the floor with the tips and heels of the shoes.

Three types of shoes are worn in competitive step dancing: hardshoes and two kinds of softshoe. The hardshoe ("heavy shoe", "jig shoe") is unlike the tap shoe, in that the tips and heels are made of fiberglass, instead of metal. The first hard shoes had wooden taps with metal nails. It was common practice in the 17th and 18th century to hammer nails into the soles of a shoe in order to increase the life of the shoe. Dancers used the sounds created by the nails to create the rhythms that characterize hard shoe dancing. Later the soles were changed into resin or fiberglass to reduce the weight.

Hardshoes are made of black leather with flexible soles. Sometimes the front taps are filed flat to enable the dancer to stand on his or her toes, somewhat like pointe shoes. The same hardshoes are worn by all dancers, regardless of gender or age.

Softshoes, often called "ghillies" (or "gillies"), fit more like ballet slippers, but they are of black leather, with a leather sole and a very flexible body. They lace from toe to ankle and do not make sounds against the dance surface. They are worn for the light jig, the reel, the single jig, the slipjig, and group dances with two or more people. They also can be worn for céilí dancing, though social céilí dance doesn't have rules about the sorts of shoes worn.

The second kind of softshoe is worn by male dancers; these are called "Reel Shoes" and are similar to oxford or jazz shoes in black leather, with fiberglass heels that the dancers can click together. Some male dancers do not have fiberglass heels, but this is never seen outside of the first or second level of competition. The men's steps are choreographed in a different style to girls' in order to take advantage of the heels.

Costume

Judges at competitions critique the dancers primarily on their performance, but they also take into account presentation. In every level of competition the dancers must wear either hard shoes or soft shoes, and white poodle socks or tights. Female dancers either curl their hair or wear a curly wig, although most dancers these days wear wigs. Boy and girls wear very distinctive costumes. The girls wear dresses with pleated skirts which are beautifuly embroidered. The boys used to wear jackets and kilts, but now more commonly perform in black trousers with a colourful shirt and tie. Costumes can be more simple for the beginning female dancer; they often wear a simple dance skirt and plain blouse.

Competition dresses have transformed in many ways since Irish Dance first appeared. Several generations ago the appropriate dress was simply your "Sunday Best". In the 1980s ornately embroidered velvet became popular. Other materials include gaberdine and wool. Today many different fabrics are used, including lace, sequins, silk, embroidered organzas and more. The dresses have a stiffened skirt pleated into panels which are stiffened with Vilene. Dresses can weigh several pounds, depending on the fabric, and require some getting used to.

Competition structure

Competitive step dancing has grown steadily since the mid 1900's, and more rapidly since the appearance of Riverdance. An organized step dance competition is referred to as a feis (pronounced "fesh", correct plural feiseanna, although "feshes" is usually used). The word feis means "festival" in Irish, and strictly speaking is also composed of competitions in music and crafts. Féile ("faila") is a more correct term for the dance competition, but the terms may be used interchangeably. Many annual competitions are truly becoming full-fledged feiseanna, by adding competitions in music, art, baking, etc.

Participants in a feis must be students of an accredited step dance teacher. Dance competitions are divided by age and level of expertise. The names for feis competition levels vary around the world:

UK: novice reel, primary, intermediate, open
Ireland: Bun Grád, Tús Grád, Meán Grád, Ard Grád, Craobh Grád (translates as "bottom", "beginning", "middle", "high" and "trophy" grades)
North America: Beginner, Advanced Beginner (or Beginner 2), Novice, Prizewinner/Open, Preliminary Champion, Open Champion
Europe: Beginner, Primary, Intermediate, Open
Australia: Novice, Beginner, Primary, Elementary, Intermediate, Open

Despite a competition structure and culture that almost exclusively supports children, many feiseanna offer competitions for adult Irish dancers.

Rules for feiseanna are set by the Organisation, not a particular feis. In An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (the largest of the "official" organizations), dancers are judged by adjudicators certified by An Coimisiún.

An annual regional Championship competition is known as an oireachtas (pronounced "oh-rock-tus"). Regional Oireachtas are normally held in November and December. Dancers from each age group may qualify for the World Championships - the exact number is worked out with a formula and is based on the number of dancers competing. National championship competitions are held annually in Ireland (known as the All-Ireland competition), North America (including Canada and the United States, called the North American Irish Dance Championship), the UK ("Great Britans" and "British Nationals" - there are two!), Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Annual World Championship competitions have been held in The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

External links

General information

International, National, and Regional Irish Dance Organizations

Dance Schools