Technique

Technique in the Irish dance world is the most crucial part of the art form. You can perform a treble or a drum or any other kind of move by doing the movement and making the sound but it will not be any good without technique. Technique is what distinguishes Irish dancers apart and places them in the level of advancement that they are. The better the technique, the better the dancer. As noted in a previous post Body of Ice, Feet of Fire, the rigid posture and strict movement of the feet are what characterize Irish dancers.

Arms

In regards to back posture and how your hands should fall next to your side, remember to tuck in your thumb and hold it slightly past your ribs. Also be mindful to squeeze your elbows close to your side to avoid your arms sticking out or bending.

Turnout

One of the biggest problems young Irish dancers and even some older and more experienced Irish dancers struggle with it turnout. Dancers should not be "pigeon toed" so to speak meaning their toes turn into their body opposed to out. No matter what move you're doing, you should always maintain a turned out position.

Some people are naturally a little bit pigeon toed and it can be difficult or uncomfortable to maintain a turned out position. You can train your feet to turn out more as dancers by simply walking around with a turn out. Another way to train your feet to get more of a turn out is to do yoga or exercise your hips.

Crossed Feet

Another issue that a lot of Irish dancers have regarding their technique is keeping their feet crossed. This can be difficult with certain moves but it is essential to keep your knees tight together to allow for your feet to stay crossed while you dance. This is something you really need to consciously stay mindful of when you are dancing or else it will look sloppy and if you are a competitive Irish dancer you will be deducted points. This video will help you make your feet more flexible to make it easier to stay turned out!

Head Hold

This may seem like an "elementary" tip in Irish dancing but it is also an important one that may be overlooked in comparison to these other techniques. Always hold you're head held high with a smile on your face! This brings confidence whether you are competing or performing. Also by chance you mess up your step or set, this look of confidence saves you from looking frazzled or allowing the audience to think you messed up. It works as a great cover up! Keeping your head held high will also help out your posture in your back. Dance as if there is a pole stuck to your back!

The Pros

All of the best Irish dancers in the world utilize all of these techniques and it is why (along with their dedication) they are the best of the best. World champions are labeled that for a reason and these tips to perfect technique are pat of that reason. As competitors, they know that judges are not only looking for advances steps but also for the perfect technique. A messy complicated step is less impressive than a clean simple step. 

In 2016, I competed along with the rest of Fordham's Irish dance team at Villanova with other schools on the east coast. When it came time for the solo treble reel competition, I as a performing Irish dancer was going up against competitive Irish dancers who had made it to worlds and placed. Having never competed I was a little nervous that my step wasn't as complicated as my competitors but that didn't seem to matter as I placed first! Although their steps had more advanced moves in it, my strong technique was enough to win over the judges and I won first place for Fordham. 

The purpose of this blog is to inform and educate people on the widespread world of Irish dance while helping fellow and new dancers along the way. Now, I'd like to show you all what every single one of you dancers are capable of with years of practice and discipline. This is Ian Luebbers, who passed away June 11, 2019, in his set dance in Scotland in 2018. I decided to show one of his sets to remember him as one of the best Irish dancers the community had. Rest in peace Ian. 

Good luck everyone with practicing technique and as always, happy dancing!

Powerful Women in Irish Dance

Jean Butler is best known as a master of Irish dance alongside the legend Michael Flatley. She was the principle female role in Riverdance and inspired many young female Irish dancers, including myself. She did not play a soft shoe Irish ballerina who danced around the lead male role but was a powerful soft and hard shoe dancer who matched and even out danced her male partner on stage.




She originated the female principle role that hadn't existed until she created it in Riverdance. Typically, it is less common for men to Irish dance, so that when there are men in a dance company, they tend to be the center of attention with all the female dancers dancing behind them. Butler changed this as she didn't believe it was fair for someone to be the center of a dance based off of their gender; it should be raw talent. She took the Irish dance world by storm and was a large influence on the modern day Riverdance.

Body of Ice, Feet of Fire

Growing up as an Irish dancer, you have many lessons to learn. The lesson of form stuck with me as I grew up and advanced into the more complicated classes. As you dance, your upper body should always be stiff with your back up straight as if you were being controlled by a puppeteer. Your feet and legs are the only thing that should ever move in Irish dance unless your arms are required for a certain dance. We were always told "body of ice, feet of fire".

Practicing in classes I would always say to myself under my breath, "body of ice, feet of fire". Although classes were less strict compared to performances, I would never let my body stray from this form. During performances on stage or at an event, if I started to get tired and let my shoulders slouch, I would immediately pick myself back up and remind myself "body of ice, feet of fire".






To me, this was the most crucial and important lesson in Irish dance because it showed discipline and demands proper form.

A message to all the Irish dancers out there: no matter how tired you may be or how close you are to being done your set, always remember and never forget "body of ice, feet of fire".

How I Started Irish Dancing

Most Irish dancers get started competing when they are young and although it is not always the case, parents play a strong influential role in their children starting Irish dance. I, however, was quite different. When I was around three or four years old, my mother (a ballet dancer) showed me the world's most successful dance show, Riverdance. Immediately I was hooked with the bag pipes ringing in my ears and my feet began to move.

My mother had started me in ballet, jazz, and tap to see if I had her dance gene. Of course as a three or four year old, there was only so much I could do in those three classes but I knew they weren't for me. They weren't fast enough and energetic enough for me and I couldn't figure out why I was the only one in my classes who could nail every dance move but not enjoy myself. This was one of my first distinct memories that started me in my career in Irish dance.




After begging my parents to let me watch Riverdance over and over again, they decided it was time to see how I did in the world of Irish dance. It made sense, we were an Irish family who played Irish music around the house around dinner time and I was a kid with a lot of energy... how could this be any more perfect for me?

My first day at my old dance studio, I made quite the impression and got to be in the front of all the "tiny toes" dances. There was one dance in particular called "The Centipede Dance" where all the tiny toes dancers were representing bugs in a garden and we were all connected like a centipede. A week into Irish dancing, I was in the front and my dance coach made the decision to bump me up to the next class. Although I was a beginner, I was moved to the older girls' classes to start hard shoe and I knew I had found my talent.

Everyone finds their talents differently and usually, it is with the help of the parents that help kids find their talents. But this was entirely me and I knew I had found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

A Memory

In May 2016 I had my last dance recital with my old dance school and in June 2016 I graduated high school. That last dance recital was filled with emotions so the morning after I wrote down everything from my favorite number.

The music starts and I’m filled with adrenaline. I dance out onto center stage and I can feel the heat of the lights and the powerful hard shoes of Irish dancers pounding on the floor next to me. I can’t help but smile and the most wonderful feeling in the world overcomes me. My feet are moving as fast as they can as the flow of violins fills the stage with loud Irish melodies. I turn on my toes and take a breath as the massive projection of a violet purple Celtic trinity knot mirrors onto my face. I turn with a double click into a series of trebles and my heart is racing. The lights are reflecting onto the green, gold, and purple detailing of my dress and headband. The music gets faster and we dance swiftly to the beat. I can’t see the audience but I don’t care. The music stops with a harmonious stamp from all the dancers as the lights go dark leaving silhouettes against the gobo. Ladies and gentlemen, The Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance. 

This was one of the best moments of my life and I will cherish this little paragraph for years to come. I am sure other Irish dancers can relate to the exhilarating feeling on stage.

We DO Use Our Arms

Recently I had made some edits to a Wikipedia post on Irish dance. The post itself had been quite accurate but I had wanted to clarify that modern Irish dance was more "modern" than the post had been letting on. It neglected to mention that the strictness of Irish dancer arms had been modified for certain types of dances that are more graceful. See my previous post where I noted this change
Here.

I had reviewed the same post I had edited and noticed that the Wikipedia post remained unchanged.I hadn't deleted anything and simply added two sentences that explained that Irish dancers can use their arms but the post was not updated. Although it was not a major change, I do wish the post would be updated!

Are you Feis Fit?

I came across another Irish dance themed blog all about being in shape for feis. Now if you're not an Irish dancer, the word "feis" is probably one you've never heard before. The word "feis" is Celtic and refers to Irish dance competitions and is pronounced "fesh".

Jeanne, creator of the Are You Feis Fit blog (you can find it here) posts about nutrition and work outs for dancers training for a feis.

One specific post talks about Seven Simple Nutrition Guidelines for Irish Dancers. You can find it here!

What I found most important about this specific post was that the very first guideline was to make sure dancers knew that this was not a "do or die" list and that they should listen to their bodies to learn what is best for them. I also liked the specificity of the second guideline that provided an entire meal plan for dancers to use to their advantage in their training.

These guidelines were perfect for Irish dancers who may be a little lost in navigating diets that might help them in their dancing. I am excited to see what Jeanne posts next!

An Interview with Lord of the Dance

I had reached out to a dancer in Lord of the Dance who had taught workshops around the east coast to young dancers. I had hoped he would respond as he had been very active in multiple dance schools around my area and luckily for me, he did! This dancer had requested to remain anonymous for his career as he wanted to be completely honest with his answers and his feelings towards the Irish dance world and Lord of the Dance. I had emailed this dancer back and forth for about a week as his schedule is typically busy between practices and workshops but I was grateful that he was able to take the time out of his week to answer a few questions.

I have combined the emailed throughout the week to form the interview.

The Interview 

Erin: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions! I'll start off with asking you how old you were when you started dancing and what made you want to start?

Interviewee: No problem! I was about three years old when I began and I barely remembered it. My mother was the one who signed me up so I have her to thank for my career.

Erin: I feel as though most Irish dancers start very young but I know that's not always the case. You danced at the "anonymous" school of Irish dance in Maryland for 16 years and danced along world champions but you never decided to compete yourself. Why was that?

Interviewee: I prefer dancing as a form of art rather than a competition. I wanted to compete with no one else other than myself as I grew as a dancer. It would have been personally unhealthy for me to compare myself to other dancers. I also wanted to pursue a career in Lord of the Dance and the performance style and competitive style were just too different for me.

Erin: I know many dancers, alongside myself, who agree in that competitive dancing wasn't meant for them. You started dancing for Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games in 2015. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience dancing with Michael Flately and possibly acknowledge the problems with Lord?

Interviewee: Michael Flately truly is one of the best Irish dancers in the world and I have high respect for him. As he gets older, he only appears at the end of his new show in the finale so I appreciate how most of the show is about the dancers as a whole and not just him. It is no secret that Lord of the Dance is sexist and as the show grows, it doesn't seem to leave its sexist ways. Riverdance has an ideal balance of male and female leads where women are empowering rather than submissive as they are in Lord. It bothers most of us in the show that the women still have to wear significantly less clothing than the men as well as the fact that they have to dance in hard shoes with a lifted heel which is extremely uncomfortable to dance in.

Erin: I am glad you brought up the sexism in Lord  because that is something that hasn't gone unnoticed in the Irish dance community as you are well aware. It is refreshing to hear a dancer (especially a male dancer) in the show itself bring it up as it seems that no one in Flately's inner circle will discuss the matter. There isn't much information about it on the internet either. It also angers many in the Irish dance community that the number Breakout hasn't been changed throughout the years. This is something I wanted to bring attention to in the interview as you are aware this is going to be shared. What are your future plans with Lord and do you intend on staying?

Interviewee: Sexism in Lord is something that I will never let be brushed over. As you mentioned with Breakout, it is completely unacceptable to have our female dancers strip their dresses off on stage. It is a male dominated show and it is clear it makes many people uncomfortable in the audience. As for my future plans with Lord, I hope to move on to Riverdance where the Irish dance isn't taken over by crazy light fixtures and special effects for the sake of a dramatic story of good and evil. The original Lord did not need editing and more drama and although I respect Flately as a dancer, I think he let the money get to his head.

Erin: Your responses are great! I am so glad you discussed the sexism and some of the problems with Lord so that my audience understands that there are some issues with the show that come with its success. Maybe it's time a new show along with Riverdance gave Lord a run for it's money! It was eye opening to hear that even the dancers in Lord see the problem with the show. Thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions.

Although the dancer wished to remain anonymous (it is clear why), I appreciated his willingness to be completely honest about the show Lord of the Dance. He believed it was important to bring these issues into the public eye more. Hopefully this helps facilitate a discussion in the Irish dance community.

How to do a Treble

About 90% of Irish dance consists of trebles so you cannot be an Irish dancer without knowing how to do one! Beginners should focus on mastering the basics of soft shoe before trying to take on a treble but if you're ready for hard shoe, then continue reading for how to master the treble!

Step 1:

With feet in position 3 (click here to refer to the 5 positions) and on your toes, step back with your left foot.


Step 2:

Now lifting your right foot, scuff your right foot up while keeping it close to your left.


Step 3:

Once again using your right foot and the left staying where it is, scuff your right foot back in the air parallel to your left foot.


Step 4:

Hop on your left foot keeping the right foot where it is hanging in the air.


Step 5:

Bring your right foot back and place it behind the left foot back in position 3, but with your left foot in front and your right foot behind.

In total, you should hear five sounds with each step of movement. Start off slow but try it faster once you get the hang of it. For more guidance I have included a video here.

The Best Irish Songs to Dance to Part 2

You may have seen my previous post on the best Irish songs to dance to. If not Click here for part one!

This previous list has a variety of Irish songs to dance to including slip jigs and reels. Although this list is perfect for getting a feel of the different kinds of Irish music, I thought I could add to it with some fun tunes that are perfect for warming up.

• Star of the County Down by The High Kings
• The Leaving of Liverpool by The Young Dubliners
• The Rising of the Moon by The High Kings
• I'm Shipping Up to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys
• The Blood of Cu Chulainn by Jeff Danna and Mychael Danna
• Crystallize by Lindsey Stirling
• Dance Above the Rainbow by Ronan Hardiman
• Siamsa by Ronan Hardiman
• Doherty's Reel by The Dubliners
• GD's by Flook
• Celtic Fire by Ronan Hardiman
• Dance of Love by Ronan Hardiman
• Duelling Violins by Ronan Hardiman

Hopefully this part 2 will give some more variety between Irish pub-like songs and fiddle/flute harmonies that are used in dance shows like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Happy dancing!

"Modern" Irish Dance

Browsing through Wikipedia, researching Irish dance, I noticed the article did not seem to quite grasp the "modernness" of modern Irish dance. It assumed that the traditional form of Irish dance hadn't changed from a rigid structure with the dancer's arms at their side.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_dance#Modern_stepdance

The most predominant form of Irish stepdance is that popularised by the Broadway show Riverdance, and other Irish dancing stage shows since the late 20th century. Characterised by a rigid torso and dances performed high on the balls of the feet, this style became distinct from the late 19th century when the Gaelic League began efforts to preserve and promote Irish dance as part of a broader nationalist movement concerned with Irish culture. In 1929, the League formed An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG, The Irish Dancing Commission) in order to codify and standardise stepdancing competition and education. Over the following decades, CLRG expanded globally, and promoted this particular form of stepdance by developing examinations and qualifications for teachers and competition adjudicators. Today, stepdance in the style codified by the Gaelic League is performed competitively in a number of countries, and under the auspices of a number of organisations which have at various times broken away from CLRG.

Reading this, I didn't think there was enough regarding how the traditional form of having arms at the side have changed as dancer often move them away from their sides. I decided to add that the soft shoe dances have strayed from this rigid structure and utilized arms to enhance the gracefulness of the dances.

The most predominant form of Irish stepdance is that popularised by the Broadway show Riverdance, and other Irish dancing stage shows since the late 20th century. Characterised by a rigid torso and dances performed high on the balls of the feet, this style became distinct from the late 19th century when the Gaelic League began efforts to preserve and promote Irish dance as part of a broader Irish nationalism|nationalist movement concerned with Irish culture. Although a rigid torso may be the initial characterization of Irish dance, modern soft shoe Irish ballerinas commonly gracefully use their arms in flowing movements, abandoning the traditional form. It is not uncommon for hard shoe dancers to utilize their arms in strict hand formations other than arms at sides. In 1929, the League formed ''An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha'' (CLRG, The Irish Dancing Commission) in order to codify and standardise stepdancing competition and education. Over the following decades, CLRG expanded globally, and promoted this particular form of stepdance by developing examinations and qualifications for teachers and competition adjudicators. Today, stepdance in the style codified by the Gaelic League is performed competitively in a number of countries, and under the auspices of a number of organisations which have at various times broken away from CLRG.

As you can see, the original quote hit on the traditional stance but used the term "modern" without hitting on the newer techniques that strayed from tradition. I believe this minor addition to the original quote helps illustrate that modern Irish dance has changed.

The Blog to Train

Although the Irish dance world isn't necessarily big, it certainly is competitive. Sure, there are competitor Irish dancers and performance Irish dancers but even the performance dancers need to train like competitive ones! It is all about strong physique to get to where you want to go as an Irish dancer. This goes for all Irish dancers, especially if you're a performance dancer, or even a competitive one, who wants to dance in Riverdance.

I came across a blog called Target Training and it has pointing exercises, cool down routines, a world championship training guide, nutrition, guides to cope with competition nerves, and guides to stay fit over the holidays, just to name a few features. If you're an Irish dancer who needs some guidance,  CLICK HERE TO TRAIN!





You can find loads of tips and training exercises there to help you get started. The aim of the training blog is to target, train, and transform. Between the 2019 World Championship Training Guide and a nutrition guide, this blog has everything any kind of Irish dancer could want. The founder and coach, Ellen G. Waller, is more than qualified to help young dancers achieve their dreams with tips ad exercises!

"Long time competitive and professional Irish dancer and instructor, Ellen G. Waller, has dedicated her life to Irish dance.  Her talent as a dancer has lead her to perform for thousands across the world and her passion as an Irish dance instructor has influenced innumerable young dancers."

Dancers like Ellen know the struggles of not knowing where to start or what is best for your body. Irish dancers' have very strict physiques required for dancing and Ellen is here to help you train... the right way!

Reel Around the Sun

River dance's opening number Reel Around the Sun is one of the most iconic dance numbers in Irish dance. The way the dancers start separated around the stage as individuals and melt together as one unit in their formations is inspiring. The dramatic beginning with the dancers slowly becoming one, was an influential technique that was used in future Irish dance numbers. Watch as Irish dance history is made in the opening number of Riverdance. 

This video in 1996 led to many present developments of Irish dance numbers where formations are the main part of the piece. The majority of Irish dancers are competitors while Riverdance shows the performance side of Irish dance where telling a story prioritizes competition. This is where the art of Irish dance is prevalent.

Lord of the Dance

Michael Flatley is the Lord of the Dance. This picture was taken in 2016 when he created his new show Dangerous Games.  The finale is pictured below.

Flatley started off starring in Riverdance and gained his fame through his famous trebles where his feet moved so fast you could barely see them. When he created his own show, "Lord of the Dance" it took off and became one of the most popular dance tours in the world. In his recent years, Flately created Dangerous Games as his retirement show which is a more in depth version of the original Lord of the Dance with storylines.

The 5 Positions You Need to Know to be an Irish Dancer!

Every young Irish dancer learns the five positions to begin every dance. As you get older and mature as a dancer you get to skip a few of these but for now I am focusing on the beginners.

The 5 Positions

As you follow this list, bear in mind this is meant to follow an 8-count to the music. 

1. Begin counting to four and ON four, tap your feet with both feet together and facing forward
2. On five, keep your heels together but spread the top of your feet creating a V 
3. On six, keep your left foot where it is but move your right foot forward so that your right heel is touching your left toe. Don't forget to keep your feet turned out!
4. On seven, keep your left foot where it is but point your right foot in front of you while maintaining a turned out foot
5. On eight, the final count before dancing, pull your right foot back from the point and with both feet turned out and with the right foot slightly in front of the left, stand on your toes

Ending with both feet on your toes allows for maximum movement to begin any step. Remember you begin these five positions when you count to four!

Confusing? Teaching a young child? No worries! Here is how I taught three year olds the beginning positions. 

For Young Beginners

In my experience, this phrasing of words seemed to work really well for my young beginners. In future blog posts I'll dedicate more time to fun phrases I used as the children got older and were able to learn more complicated moves. 

1. Count to four! "One, two, three, TAP!"
2. Now turn your feet out and make your heels kiss each other! Look down, do you see a "V" shape?
3. Now cross! Make your left heel kiss your right toe
4. Now we are Irish ballerinas, point that toe!
5. Now stand on your tippy toes its time to dance!

Good luck everyone! Happy Dancing!

The Best Irish Songs to Dance to

Irish dancers can dance to anything that carries a beat but what are the best classic Irish songs to dance to?

• Rocky Road to Dublin by the Dubliners or The High Kings 
• Lord of the Dance by Ronan Hardiman
• Cry of the Celts by Ronan Hardiman
• Galway Girl by Celtic Crossroads
• Teir Abhaile Riu by Celtic Woman
• Reel Around the Sun by Crimson Ensemble
• Countess Kathleen by Crimson Ensemble
• Riverdance by Bill Whelan 
• Tell Me Ma by Shamrock

Between soft shoe and hard shoe and between slip jigs and reels, this list has it all. 

The Celtic Goodbye

The Parting Glass

The Irish ballad about death is one of the most beautiful pieces of Celtic music. Covered by multiple artists (Ed Sheeran for example) and sang to two different melodies, the ballad can be a tune of sorrow or an upbeat melody perfect for Irish dancing to. 

A Ballad of Death

"So fill to me the parting glass,

Goodnight and joy be to you all"

These words resonate deeply as the Celtic voices harmonize and the flute flutters in the background. It is a truly beautiful song. 

The Honorable Dance

I danced to an upbeat pride-filled version of The Parting Glass three years ago as a finale in my last dance show. It was an experience like no other. 

I stepped out on stage for our usual finale dance number and danced through the motions I knew so well as the fiddles carried my feet to the fast paced melody. We bowed with our right foot pointed as we always did but this time something felt different. 

The seniors were in the front row with tears in our eyes as we knew this was the end of an era and we were parting with each other before heading off to college. Then... something changed. A man stepped out on stage with a guitar in his hand and he was joined by a fiddler and a flutist. He sang a cappella into the microphone the opening lines of The Parting Glass and my heart sank. 

"Of all the money that 'er I've had

I spent it in good company..."

I knew these words too well as I had choreographed and taught a whole dance number to this song and as a final goodbye, my dance coach surprised me with the honor of having everyone dance to my masterpiece. Right on cue, 20 dancers stomped their hard shoes as they followed their feet across the stage. I joined them and in unison we danced, filling our own parting glasses. 

The Rutherford Review

All Irish dancers need a pair of ghillies (soft Irish ballet shoes) and a pair of hard shoes (heavy tap shoes). But what company has the best quality shoes?

Rutherford is a well known company that specializes in Irish dance shoes and costume pieces. I had recently needed a new pair of both hard and soft shoes (ghillies) and decided to purchase both from Rutherford. The Irish company has a reputation for making shoes that last a really long time and that are of the best quality of leather (both shoes are made from leather for durability). But having highly durable shoes means they need lots of breaking in.

When an Irish dancer purchases new shoes, hard shoes especially, they need to "break them in" by bending them in multiple directions and placing the bent shoes under pressure to hold the position. It is recommended to hold them bent under a couch for days and weeks at a time to maximize the leather's flexibility.

The Review

I had purchased Rutherford hard and soft shoes in January and had placed them under the bed for 4 months while I was studying abroad in London so that they would be perfect and ready for dancing in when I returned. This week I took it upon myself to give them a try and I was more than pleased. Both shoes were comfortable and the leather was bendable enough to allow for maximum foot flexibility and I didn't feel restricted in either pair.


The hard shoes were the right weight so that they were heavy and loud when my foot hit the ground but I didn't have a hard time lifting my feet. The tip of the hard shoe was perfectly comfortable and strong so that I could go on my toes without issue or pain.

The soft shoes weren't stiff and allowed fluid motion without looking like I had flat fleet. I was able to point my toes easily and the balls of my feet were comfortable with the sturdy padding on the bottom.

I would recommend this company to any Irish dancer looking for a new pair of shoes!

Music in the Irish Dance World

Some believe that Irish dance should stick to the traditional roots and dancers should only dance to celtic music. I believe that although holding on to those Celtic roots are crucial to not lose the celtic identity, Irish dancers should dance to any music they get their hands on.


The Irish dance world is not a big one. Some people have never even heard of Irish dancing and boy have I come across quite the handful of people that don't know what it is. Not going to lie, it stings a little when people don't know what my favorite thing in the world is. This is why it is crucial for Irish dancers to break a little bit out of that tradition and expand the music genres we dance to. When a small community in the world can relate to a wider audience, the community and support grows. Irish dancers can dance to quite literally anything. From pop, jazz, blues, and everything in between, there is no limit to what an Irish dancer can make their own. This allows for creativity for the individual dancer as a well as a bridge to others in other communities.

What Makes Irish Dance Different?

Some think Irish dance is similar to tap dancing and although there can be some similar characteristics, the style and rules of Irish dance are extremely different. It is a very distinctive form of dance that requires athleticism and flexibility. What makes Irish dance so different is the form and music.

Body Posture

What makes Irish dance so recognizable is the strictness of body posture with arms at the sides and hands in a specific fist. Irish dancers will train their upper bodies by dancing with pads squeezed between the arm and the side of the torso. Irish dancer's should have the body of ice and feet of fire. With knees staying close together and feet always crossed and turned out, the art of Irish dance is strict and powerful. Rarely do dancers leave this position unless it is to perform a graceful soft shoe or Irish ballet dance.

Music

The melodic fiddle and the flute are the most popular combination of instruments in Irish music although Irish dancers can dance to anything. However, the three most popular forms of Irish dance music follow the reel, jig, and hornpipe.

Reels, Jigs, and Hornpipes

There are different kinds of Irish dance that match the different styles of music. The most common is the reel and most modern music and pop songs follow the same metre as the reel. The reel follows 8 bars (counting 1 through 8) and the time signature is 4/4 meaning there are 4 beats to every bar. The jig also follows an 8 bar but the time signature is 6/8 meaning there are 6 beats to every bar. The hornpipe, instead of counting 4 beats per bar, there is an emphasis on the first and third beat, giving a bounce feel (1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4).

Like I said, Irish dance is unique and maybe now you can see why. There are so many different layers to it between the different style and techniques and the variability of dance moves. Keep on the lookout for future blog posts about the fun yet incredibly difficult moves Irish dancers learn and master.

Irish Dance in a Glance

Not Irish? Who cares! It was never just about being Irish.

Welcome to my blog! Who am I? I am just an Irish dancer. This blog aims to capture the essence of the Irish heritage and culture while twisting it into other people's parallel experiences. 

Between the music, the dance, the homeland, and the influence, this blog will highlight the importance of devotion in everyday life.