IRISH DANCE

'Irish dances' come 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. Irish set and céilí dances are usually 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 deliberately modified and new dances are choreographed.
Irish performance dancing is traditionally referred to as stepdance. Irish stepdance is notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary (it has been popularised since 1994 by the world-famous show "Riverdance").
Aside from public dance performances, there are also stepdance competitions. 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 controlled (but not rigid) upper body, straight arms 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. Travelling dancing masters taught all over Ireland as late as the early 1900s.

Contents

Irish céilí dances

Céilí

Irish set dances

Sean Nós

Irish stepdance

Roots of Irish stepdance

Dances

Shoes and costume

Competition structure

References

External links

General information

International, national, and regional Irish dance organizations

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission (CLRG)

Irish céilí dances

Irish social, or 'céilí', (IPA pronunciation:) dances vary widely throughout Ireland and the rest of the world. A céilí dance may be performed with as few as three people and as many as sixteen. Céilí dances may also be danced with an unlimited number of couples in a long line or proceeding around in a circle (Such as in "Shoe the Donkey", the "Walls of Limerick" or "Bonfire Dance"). Céilí dances are often fast-paced and may be quite complicated. In a social setting, a céilí dance may be "called" -- that is, the upcoming steps are announced during the dance for the benefit of newcomers.
The term ''céilí dance'' was invented in the late 19th century by the Gaelic League, to distinguish non-quadrille dances from the quadrille-based set dances, which were thought to be a British or foreign influence in Ireland.

Céilí

There is a distinction between the noun céilí, and the adjective. A céilí is a social gathering featuring Irish music and dance. Céilí dancing is a specific type of Irish dance. Some céilithe (the plural of céilí) will only have céilí dancing, some will only have set dancing, and some will be mixed.

Irish set dances

Set dances are folk dances of Ireland based on French quadrilles. Most are done in square sets of four couples and consist of several "figures" each of which has a number of parts. Throughout the dance, as they perform the figures, the dancers use various steps, with the style of the step varying from place to place and from set to set. The sets themselves come from various parts of Ireland are often named for their place of origin, such as the Corofin Plain Set or the Clare Lancers Set.
The music used can be reels, jigs, slides or polkas, but only one type of tune is used for a given figure although types are frequently mixed within any given set.
Irish set dancing is popular throughout Ireland as well as in Canada, the United States, Australia, Europe and other countries. Social set dancing is not usually competitive, but there are competitions held by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The term "traditional set dancing" is also used to describe a different type of competitive solo stepdancing taught by Irish dance schools.

Sean Nós

Sean-Nós, literally meaning "old style", is a highly improvised solo form danced to Irish traditional music. It is found primarily in Connemara, where it originated, on the West coast of Ireland and features a great deal of foot work and more body motion than is found in the more well known Irish stepdance. Sean-Nós dancing is a very impromptu low-key accompaniment to a lively traditional band. The footwork is primarily in a "battering" style.

Irish stepdance

:''Main article: Irish stepdance''

Roots of Irish stepdance

Stepdancing as a modern form is descended directly from sean nós ("old style") stepdancing. There are several different 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 formalised by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha—the Irish Dancing Commission.
Irish stepdancing is primarily done in competitions, public performances or other formal settings.

Dances

Irish solo stepdances fall into two broad categories based on the shoes worn: 'hard shoe' and 'soft shoe' dances.
Soft shoe dances include the 'reel', 'slip jig', 'light jig', and 'single jig'. Reels have a 4/4 time signature. Slip jigs are in 9/8 time. Light and single jigs are in 6/8 time, with different emphasis within the measure distinguishing the music.
Hard shoe dances include the 'hornpipe', in 2/4 time, the 'treble jig', in a slow 6/8, the 'treble reel', and 'traditional sets', which are a group of 36 dances with set music and steps. Many traditional sets have irregular musical phrasing. There are also more advanced "non-traditional sets" done by advanced dancers. These have set music, but not steps.
The céilí dances used in competitions are more precise versions of those danced in less formal settings. There is a list of 30 céilí dances which have been standardised and published in An Coimisiún's ''Ar Rinncidhe Foirne'' as examples of typical Irish folk dances; these are called the "book" dances by competitive stepdancers. Most stepdance competitions only ask for a short piece of any given figure dance, in the interests of time.

Shoes and costume

Two types of shoes are worn in step dancing: hardshoes and 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 or leather taps with metal nails. Later the taps and heels were changed into resin or fiberglass to reduce the weight and to increase the footwork sounds. The soft shoes, which are called ''ghillies'', resembles a ballet shoe minus the hard toe and the ribbons for laces. Ghillies are only worn by girls while boys wear a black leather shoe which resembles a black jazz shoe with a hard heel. Boys soft-shoe dancing features audible heel clicks.
Several generations ago the appropriate dress for a competition was simply your "Sunday Best". In the 1980s ornately embroidered dresses became popular. Today even more ornamentation is used on girls' dresses, including lace, sequins, silk, extensive embroidery, feathers, and more. Irish Dancing schools have team dresses, but dancers, once they reach a level decided by their school, may get a solo dress of their own design and colors. Today in competition, most men wear a shirt, vest, and tie paired with black pants.

Competition structure

An organized step dance competition is referred to as a ''feis'' (IPA: , plural ''feiseanna''). The word ''feis'' means "festival" in Irish, and strictly speaking would also have competitions in music and crafts. Féile (IPA: ) is a more correct term for the dance competition, but the terms may be used interchangeably. Dance competitions are divided by age and level of expertise.
An annual regional Championship competition is known as an oireachtas (IPA: ). Dancers from each age group may qualify for the World Championships. Qualifying for the World Championships, Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, (roughly translated to Irish Dance Championship of the World) varies slightly due to the competition or region. In the United States, dancers may qualify at either a Regional Oireachtas, or the North American Championships, which includes the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The World Championships have in years past only been held in Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, however in 2009, for the first time they will be held in the United States in Philadelphia.

References

★ Helen Brennan: ''The Story of Irish Dancing'', Mount Eagle Publications Ltd., 1999 ISBN 0 86322 244 7

★ John Cullinane: ''Aspects of the History of Irish Céilí Dancing'', The Central Remedial Clinic, Clontarf, Dublin 3,(1998), ISBN 0-952-79522-1

★ An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha: ''Ár Rincí Fóirne-Thirty Popular Céilí Dances'', Westside Press (2003)

★ J. G. O' Keeffe, Art O' Brien: ''A Handbook of Irish Dances, 5. Edition'', Gill & Son Ltd., (1934)

★ Pat Murphy: ''Toss the Feathers - Irish Set Dancing'', Mercier Press, 1995 ISBN 1-85635-115-7

★ Pat Murphy: ''The Flowing Tide - More Irish Set Dancing'', Mercier Press, 2000 ISBN 1-85635-308-7

External links

General information

★ Diochra.com: Discover Irish dance!

★ Beginners Guide to Irish Dancing

★ The History of Irish Dance

★ Irish Step Dancing

★ Set Dance

International, national, and regional Irish dance organizations

★ Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann

★ An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission

★ Nordic Society of Irish Dancers

★ Danish Society of Irish Dancers

★ Japan Irish Dancing Association

★ World Irish Dance Association

★ Cumann Rince Náisiúnta

★ American Association of Irish Dancers and Teachers

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission (CLRG)

★ An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission

★ Registered Teachers of Mainland Europe

★ Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America

★ Traditional Irish Dancing Association of New Zealand

★ Australian Irish Dancing Association