How to become an Irish Dancer

Finding a teacher

Firstly, you will need to find a licensed Irish dancing teacher. There are plenty of Irish dancing schools no matter where you come from all around the world and there should be plenty of schools advertised on the internet or your local business directory book. Usually you will attend the class and just watch or you can join in if you wish too. The first class is usually free but usually dance lessons range from £4+ per lesson, depending on the number of hours in a lesson and the fee of the hall that the class is held in.

If you don’t wish to attend dance lessons and just want to learn some basics then there are plenty of Irish dancing videos/DVDs which take you step by step through the basic steps of Irish step dancing. The videos/DVDs can be purchased on the internet on most Irish dancing merchandise websites.

Basic steps

Teachers, will teach a new Irish dancing pupil the basic steps of Irish step dancing. Firstly, it is essential to keep arms straight down by your side at all times (with the exception of group dancing), feet must be crossed and turned out at all time and posture must be straight. So your top half should be stiff but not forced and you legs should be doing all the work!

Beginner dancers will be taught individual steps such as hops, skips, kicks and once mastered these; jumps will be taught. These steps will be put together to form a dance.

There are light dances and heavy dances. Light dances will be taught to beginner dancers and heavy dances will be taught to the more experienced dancer, depending on how quickly the dancer learns.

The dances a beginner dancer will learn is the easy reel, single jig, light jig and slip jig. As the dancer progresses the steps will be more advanced and heavy dances will be taught.

 

Competitions

When a dancer has progressed, they are able to attend competitions. Competitors are sorted by grade and age. There are four grades: Novice (beginner), primary, intermediate and open. When open grade is reached dancers can compete in championships.

Beginner dancers will dance in novice grade, they will dance the beginners reel, single jig, light jig and slip jig in this grade. Only basic steps are allowed in this grade. A 1st, 2nd or 3rd are needed to move up into primary grade. Once in primary grade, dancers are allowed to dance all light dances and all heavy dances and steps can be as intricate as wanted. To move up to Intermediate a 1st is needed and the same goes when moving into open grade.

When open grade is reached, dancers will dance in championships which will consist of one light dance (either slip jig or reel) and of one heavy dance (either heavy jig or horn pipe). If recalled then the dancer is required to dance a set dance of their choice which is a heavy dance.

 - Becky Ford (My Girlfriend)

History of Irish Dancing

Irish dancing has a very long history. Today’s Irish dance competitions (Feisanna’s), date back to about the year 1100.In that time feisanna’s were trade fairs, political gatherings and cultural events. At these events there was music, sports, storytelling, and crafts. People known as step dance masters traveled from town to town and taught Irish dancing. They taught steps that fit traditional 8 bar Irish music. Competitions were held in which demonstrations of steps by masters were done on table tops or small stages. Dancing in limited space was an important aspect of style. Irish dancing developed even more during the war years (1919-1939). There was then an even larger increase after WWII because of higher income levels leading to more leisure time. Irish with higher incomes living in America also had more leisure time and and began dancing in America, leading to the popularity of Irish dance in America. In the 20th century, Irish dance evolved in many ways including costumes, locations of competitions, and dance techniques. Competing dancers began using larger stages and a lot of movement during competition became popular, unlike the dance masters who would dance in small areas. Children are also taught much earlier now and the tradition of teaching mostly boys has changed as many girls now are also taught. Costumes have also changed greatly since the beginnings of Irish dance and are a lot more glamorous now. In the 1800′s the traditional costume for boys was kilts, or pants and for females was peasant dresses. Today boys wear kilts or pants but girls wear elaborately designed dresses of many colors. Dance shoes known as softs or gillies were introduced in 1924. Another form of shoe known as hard shoes had evolved in styles, allowing dancers to “click”, in which they kick they’re legs, hitting they’re heels together and making a clicking sound. The shoes were made with hollow heels and fiberglass tips so the dancer can make more noise while dancing(while dancing hard shoe, being able to hear the steps as they are being done is essential.)