Figure 1.--Judges carefully watch this dancer's foot work. The normal boy's costume for Irish dancing is a short jacket, white shirt, tie, shoulder sash, kilt, and kneesocks. The kneesocks usually match either the jacket or the kilt. Some American dancing schools let the boys wear long black pants, but this is not common in Ireland.

Irish dance has developed quietly in Ireland for centuries. Irish immigrants brought their traditional dances to America beginning in the 1840s, driven from their homeland by the Great Famine. Their dances had a profound influence on traditional American folk dances like square dancing and their music was a powerful ingredient in country music. Modern Irish dance, however did not begin to become popular until after World War II. The independence of Ireland in 1921, rising income levels after the War, and the increasing interest in Irish heritage by Irish Americans all contributed to the expanding interest in Irish dance. This interest was almost entirely within the Irish community until River Dance introduced Irish dancing to the public at large in the 1990s.

History of Irish Dance

Irish step dances are relatively modern, creations of the dancing masters prevalent in Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries. "... almost all references to Irish dances in literature, down to the beginning of the eighteenth century, deal only with Round and Long dances, and ... there is a marked absence of any indication of the existence of the dancing-master until about the same time." The intricate steps were invented by the dancing masters, who elaborated on the simple steps of Round and Long dances.

Irish dancing until thr Republic obtained independence in 1921 was rather informal. The new Republican Goverment as a matter of national policy sought to promote Irish culture which they felt, with some validity, had been supressed by the English. This included even attempts to revive the Irish language which was then only spoken in remote rural areas. Thus all areas of traditional culture, including dance and music benefitted from Government support. Irish dance developed during the inter-war years (1919-39), but began to become increasingly popular after World War II. The rising income levels provided more leisure time for a widening sector of the population. The increasingly econommically successful Irish in America began to take more interest in their heritage and one expression of this was Irish dance and music. This was a particularlybimportant development as 30 million Americans identify themselves as Irish-American, ten times the population of the the Republic. One Irish contributor to HBC reports that his dance teacher began dancing in the 1940s. She says she has been dancing since she was a young girl. Her house is filled with medals and prizes. Apparently Irish dance became very popular in the 1960s and 70s. Our Irish contributor remembers seeing pictures of his older cousins (boys and girls) dancing. It was the "done thing" back then to learn Irish dancing and a musical instrument. Yhe costumes were simpler and less frequent costume changes.

Benefits of Irish Dance

Irish dance teachers points to many benefits of Irish dance for the children participating. They learn increased physical skills. They develop body control and coordination. Dance is great exercise. There is also the opportunity to increased mental skills: listening, following directions, increasing attention span, and memorizing steps. Dancing also fosters a healthy competitive spirit. It increases the child's desire to do well and to the best of his/her ability. It helps build self-esteem and increase the child's confidence as he/she develops "stage presence". Dancers build lasting friendships, not only with classmates, but through performing and competing, meeting children from all parts of the city, state, and country. Irish dancing also helps to promote Irish culture. A revival of Irish identity and tradition began in the 1960s. While a young dancer may not comprehend this particular benefit while training, this revival continues!

Figure 2.--The boys are lined up in the standard position ready to compete in a competition. Unlike Scottish dancers, the Irish dancers almost always wear solid color kilts. Note the traditional pin worn with the kilt. These boys will be doing a hard shoe routine.

Age

Parents often ask when children should begin Irish dancing lessons. Many instructors suggest beginning at the age of 6 or 7, sometimes younger if the dancer has an older brother or sister in the school. But there are many children who first began lessons as early as age 4 and as late as their mid-teens. Before enrolling a very young child into Irish dance, it is a good idea to ask the teacher to spend a few moments with your youngster and give you an honest appraisal of what to expect in the first year (before committing to lessons). Teachers are qualified to evaluate your child and usually welcome the opportunity to do so.

Dance Levels

Dancers in different countries have different names for the various levels of dancing. They are, however, basically the same despite the different names. The beginning dancer moves from Novice, to Primary, to Intermediate to Open. To progress from one grade to another, the dancer must fulfil certain specified requirements, such as taking first second or third place at the Feis in Novice, or first in Primary or Intermediate. The dancer can move up the rankings, but if you go from Intermediate to Open, and find the standard is too high, you can move back down to Intermediate after the following January 1, but not before. It may sound quite easy to progress, but with so many dancers in each category, the dancer may have to be patient and practice hard. It usually is much easier for the boys as there are far fewer boys competing than there are girls.

Beginners

While watching in awe at a dance school performance, a parent may wonder "How long would it take for my child to learn to do those amazing steps?" All I can say is that the individual dancing skills exhibited is a progression and that there is no "normal" progression. This all depends on the dancer's age, talents, commitment, home practice, etc. But I'll try to outline where your child might be while describing the following dance program:

Reels and Light Jigs

Immediately, you'll see your beginner dancer learn the "threes and sevens". This is the foundation of all Irish steps. You'll watch the child develop poise and grace, always improving body alignment. As your dancer advances (perhaps into the third or fourth year), you'll see the dancer able to execute more and more complex steps, able to lift him/herself across the stage with the grace of a deer. By this time you'll become aware that there are features to dancing that are exclusively Irish and not found among the ethnic dances of any other people.

Figures

As the "threes and sevens" are being learned, almost immediately, your own child will dance with other dancers, performing the same steps at the same time. This helps the child develop the all-important sense of timing. By the end of the first year, these beginner figures will include hand holding and other arm movements as well as the execution of steps. The teacher will match age and appearance with the talents of other dancers in two-, three-, four-, six-, and eight-hand figures with your dancer's classmates. Your more advanced dancer (second or third year) may become part of a four- or eight-hand ceili team. A ceili dance is a figure not designed by the teacher, but done only one way "by the book" as allowed in the manual Ar Rince Foirne. Also, the teacher may gather his/her most accomplished dancers and put together a teacher's choreography. A choreography team is made up of nine to sixteen dancers and indeed brings the best out of the teacher's creativity when it comes to figure movements. After long and hard work from all concerned, it is the teacher's hope to enter this choreography in regional, national, and even world competition.

Hornpipes and Treble Jigs

As he/she develops coordination and timing (perhaps in the second or third year), your child will need a second kind of shoe; "hard shoes" fitted with fiberglass heels and tips. You'll now watch your dancer learn to make rhythmic sounds using the toe, heel, and ball of the foot. From there you'll see the complexity of the steps grow and grow. Maybe in the second or third year of hard shoe (fourth or fifth year as a dancer), the teacher will put together a Set Piece for your dancer. Choreographed by the teacher, the set is named after the tune itself and is performed at the dancer's chosen speed.

Slipjigs

A ladies-only and unique-to-the-Irish dance, you'll find your daughter learning the graceful slipjig in her first or second year of lessons.

Lessons

Formal lessons of an Irish dance school generally follows an academic calendar, beginning in September and ending in May/June. Teachers, however may accept new students at any time during the year. You can expect your beginner's lesson to run approximately one hour, one afternoon or evening each week. Additionally, the teacher may call for extra lessons, especially before an important performance or competition. These lessons may or may not require additional lesson fees depending on the circumstances. Also, private or semi-private (two or three dancers) lessons can be arranged with the teacher throughout the year at an agreed fee schedule.

Parents shouldn't expect to remain in the same room while lessons are in progress. Like an academic setting, the teacher needs to be in control of the class and have the full attention of the students. However, a teacher may open certain lessons for parents to observe and question. These nights may be beneficial to the parent keeping abreast of the child's development thus being able to more closely monitor his/her practice at home.

Figure 3.--Irish dancers perform in both hard and soft (balet) shoes, depending on the event.

Dance Types

Irish dance includes a wide variety of types for solo, pair, and group dances. Most people think of step dancing when thinking about Irish dancing. There are many types of stap dancing, including reels anf jigs. There are four basic Irish step dances (solos): reel, (light) jig, slip jig, and hornpipe. There are, of course, many many variations of reel, light jig, slip jig, and hornpipe steps. Each dancing school has its own versions of the steps. There is, of course, much more than just step dancing. Irish dance also includes set dancing, ceili, waltzes, and other group dances.

Dance Styles

Dance styles have also changed; for example, arms and hands were not always held rigid during solo dances. Previously they were sometimes more relaxed and were even placed on hips. It seems that the influence of parish priests led to the lack of arm movement; some argue that stiff arms were less provocative, others argue that the Church was trying to increase dancers' self control. Hand movements still occur in figure (group) dances.

Feises

The kingdoms and provinces of early Ireland set aside times and places for the general assembly of the people. Chief of these, the one to which each territorial assembly sent representatives, was the Aonach of Great Fair at Tara, seat of the Ard Rhi, or High King of Ireland. The modern feis, or festivals, traces its origins to these events. The modern feis began before the turn of the 20th Century as part of the revival of Irish culture. They became a celebration of Irish culture. As a result, they were dicouraged by the English. The feies of today are primarily dancing competions, but music, language, cooking and other competitions are often also held.

The Dancers

Irish dance has evolved in other ways during the 20th Century. Instruction is beginning at a younger age. Who is instructed has also changed from mostly males to mostly females (the turning point was before 1930). Girls dancing solos in competition were rare before the 1920s. Both boys and girls participate, but the great majority of the dancers are now girls. Often less than 10 percent of the dancers are boys at modern feises. Many mothers would like to incourage their sons to dance, but are unsure as to just how to do it.

Figure 4.--Irish and British dancers often have blazers with piping at the edges. This is rarely seen in America.

Boys' Dancing Costumes

A costume is required of each dancer entering a competition or performing with the school. Individual school's policies vary as to obtaining a school costume. Sometimes the costume is purchased outright and owned by the dancer. Other times costumes are owned by the school (or parent organization) and rented to the student requiring a security deposit. In the third or fourth year, your dancer may earn the right to wear his/her own "solo" costume. Modern costumes are quite different from those worn historically at feises. The dance costume has changed greatly from traditional garb. Boys doing Irish dance wear either long black pants or kilts.

Girls Costumes

The girls doing Irish step dancing wear dresses, never kilts for performances. The dresses are heavy "A"-line dresses, often in bright colors. Many are heavily embroidered in Celtic symbols. Some schools do allow the girls to even wear kilts for practice. Reserving the kilts for boys is done in part because the kilt was the ancient Celtic male garment and in part so the boys aren't dressed like the girls. This would probably discourage many younger boys from participating in Irish dancing.

Teachers

Many teachers are passionate about their commiment to Irish dancing. They are not only deeply committed to Irish dance and culture, but they also see the benefits to the dancers. Many find great personal award in teaching and helping the dancers develop their dancing skills and in the process learning the benefits of hard work and discipline.

Irish Dance and Balet

Some observers have noted similarities between Irish step dancing and balet. A good number of people compare step-dance soft-shoe to ballet. Although soft-shoe is often more "smooth" and "balletic" than hard-shoe, set, or other Irish dances, and several movements appear to be taken from ballet. One Irish dance enthusists comments on ballet and Irish step dance. "Now which is less "traditional," the leap of the ballet dancer or the step-pull that the mountain folk may have borrowed from the dances of the Cherokee? Or is it shame on both dancers for using them?"

Personal Experiences

Some personal accounts are available from the dancers.
Irish boy in Scotland: Irish and Scottish dancing--Patrick

Created: May 10, 1998
Last updated: August 28, 2000