The Past
Irish dance has definite roots dating as far back as 400 AD,
and lore that stretches even earlier in religious ritual dances honoring the
sun and oak tree of the Druids. When the Celts migrated to Ireland they brought
their own folk dances and music which survived the introduction of Christianity
in 400 AD through the peasants (Ireland’s Eye). Irish dancing survived other
invasions throughout history. When the Vikings invaded Ireland in 795 AD all
records of the dance were destroyed, but the tradition continued. The invasion
of the Normans in 1169 introduced the style of the round dance, which was
quickly adopted and is still very prevalent today (The Irish Path). The dances
continued to evolve and grow in popularity and class into the sixteenth century
when professional dancers started performing for nobility in their castles. The
dance still kept to its roots in the peasantry and could be seen in villages
across Ireland and in the great halls of castles. Everyone danced; even masters
of the house would dance alongside their servants (Ireland’s Eye).
The form of Irish dance commonly known today was not formed until the eighteenth century with the rise of the Dancing Masters. Dancing Masters brought Irish dancing from being a group social dance to a solo dance. The Masters would travel through the villages and teach young dancers more refined steps of the group dances they already knew and build them into solo dances (The Irish Path). Each Dance Master had his own territory, or district, that he taught in, and they respected the boundaries. When two Masters met at fairs they would often dance against each other until one dropped out, too fatigued to dance any more (Ireland’s Eye). The Dance Masters taught in Ireland for almost 200 years. Through their work the jig, hornpipe, and reel dancers know today were refined and standardized (The Irish Path).
The form of Irish dance commonly known today was not formed until the eighteenth century with the rise of the Dancing Masters. Dancing Masters brought Irish dancing from being a group social dance to a solo dance. The Masters would travel through the villages and teach young dancers more refined steps of the group dances they already knew and build them into solo dances (The Irish Path). Each Dance Master had his own territory, or district, that he taught in, and they respected the boundaries. When two Masters met at fairs they would often dance against each other until one dropped out, too fatigued to dance any more (Ireland’s Eye). The Dance Masters taught in Ireland for almost 200 years. Through their work the jig, hornpipe, and reel dancers know today were refined and standardized (The Irish Path).
Present Day
Dancers in their unique solo dresses perform in hard shoes.
Today, Irish dancing has grown into a highly competitive
sport while still retaining its social and entertaining values.
Irish dancing consists of soft-shoe dancing, where the focus is to be light on the feet, and hard-shoe dancing, where dancers focus on making sounds and rhythmic clicks with their feet. All dancers perform in soft-shoes and hard-shoes depending on the dance. Soft-shoe dances include the reel, jig, and slip jig. Hard-shoe dances include the hornpipe, treble jig, and treble reel. The different dances are determined by the meter of the music.
In the tradition of the old Dance Masters, schools of Irish dance train dancers at all age and skill levels. Some dancers start dancing when they are four or five years old and other dancers do not start until they are adults. Each dance school has their own specially designed costume that dancers wear to represent their school at a feis (pronounced “fesh”), or Irish dance competition. The school dresses are often embroidered with traditional Gaelic designs and symbol taken from the Book of Kells. When a dancer has reached a high enough level of skill they may buy a solo dress. These dresses are custom designed, specifically designed to be flashy and eye catching, and very expensive (see the picture to the left). Dancers with solo dresses will compete in them, but they also keep a school dress for other non-competitive performances. Dancers will also often curl their hair, or wear a curly wig while performing to add to the visual spectacle of the performance.
Irish dancing is a highly competitive sport. Dancers of all ages and skill levels from all over the world will meet at Feises and compete with each other. Some Feises are more localized, including the local dance schools, others are more national drawing competitors from all over the country. There is also the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, or the World Irish Dancing Competition. Here the best dancers from all over the world meet to compete for the title of World Champion.
While Irish dancing is highly competitive, it is also highly entertaining and very social. Throughout the year dancers will perform at festivals, in pubs, in schools, and in nursing homes for the sake of entertainment. Non-competitive performances will include more group dances, which tend to be more showy and entertaining. Usually dancers will perform in their school costumes and not solo dresses. Some group dances may even have the dancers wear special costumes to add to the effect. Most traditional group dances are performed in hard-shoes, but some are soft-shoe dances; some group dances even have some dancers wear soft-shoes and others wear hard-shoes.
Irish dancing consists of soft-shoe dancing, where the focus is to be light on the feet, and hard-shoe dancing, where dancers focus on making sounds and rhythmic clicks with their feet. All dancers perform in soft-shoes and hard-shoes depending on the dance. Soft-shoe dances include the reel, jig, and slip jig. Hard-shoe dances include the hornpipe, treble jig, and treble reel. The different dances are determined by the meter of the music.
In the tradition of the old Dance Masters, schools of Irish dance train dancers at all age and skill levels. Some dancers start dancing when they are four or five years old and other dancers do not start until they are adults. Each dance school has their own specially designed costume that dancers wear to represent their school at a feis (pronounced “fesh”), or Irish dance competition. The school dresses are often embroidered with traditional Gaelic designs and symbol taken from the Book of Kells. When a dancer has reached a high enough level of skill they may buy a solo dress. These dresses are custom designed, specifically designed to be flashy and eye catching, and very expensive (see the picture to the left). Dancers with solo dresses will compete in them, but they also keep a school dress for other non-competitive performances. Dancers will also often curl their hair, or wear a curly wig while performing to add to the visual spectacle of the performance.
Irish dancing is a highly competitive sport. Dancers of all ages and skill levels from all over the world will meet at Feises and compete with each other. Some Feises are more localized, including the local dance schools, others are more national drawing competitors from all over the country. There is also the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, or the World Irish Dancing Competition. Here the best dancers from all over the world meet to compete for the title of World Champion.
While Irish dancing is highly competitive, it is also highly entertaining and very social. Throughout the year dancers will perform at festivals, in pubs, in schools, and in nursing homes for the sake of entertainment. Non-competitive performances will include more group dances, which tend to be more showy and entertaining. Usually dancers will perform in their school costumes and not solo dresses. Some group dances may even have the dancers wear special costumes to add to the effect. Most traditional group dances are performed in hard-shoes, but some are soft-shoe dances; some group dances even have some dancers wear soft-shoes and others wear hard-shoes.
Irish Dancers perform a group dance at a festival. (Fun Fact: This is my old dance school performing)
