Traditional Irish Dance

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 the Republic obtained independence in 1921 was rather informal. The new Republican Government as a matter of national policy sought to promote Irish culture which they felt, with some validity, had been suppressed 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 benefited 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 economically 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 particularly important development as 30 million Americans identify themselves as Irish-American, ten times the population of the the Republic. 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. The 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!

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 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 step dancing, including reels and 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 of course changed over time. In modern Irish step dancing, arms and hands are held rigid during solo dances. This was not always the case. Previously they were sometimes more relaxed and were even placed on hips. The lack of arm movement in modern step dancing may have been the influence of parish priests. Some dance historians believe that stiff arms were considered less provocative. Others argue that the Church was trying to increase dancers' self control. The hands held stifly at the side are today one of the most distinctive charateristics of Irish step dancing. Hand movements, however, still occur in figure (group) dances, in part required by the interactions between the dancers. One growing debate in Irish dance is the "battering" or the noise made by hard shoes on wooden stages. This is another of the impacts of the popularity of Michael O'Flarery and "River Dance."

Jigs:

There are references to the jig in ancient Ireland. A number of variations of the jig are performed including the single (or soft), double, treble, and slip jig. The music is 6/8 time (the emphasis on beats in a jig is: ONE-two-three four-five-six). Slip jigs are in 9/8 time (ONE-two-three four-five-six seven-eight-nine). Dancers perform single or soft jigs in soft shoes. Solo competitions only occur at the level of beginners, advanced beginners, and at some feisianna, Open. Competitions at all levels also occur in the treble jig which has a slower tempo, but dancers triple beats in hard shoes. The slip jig (soft shoes) is the most graceful of Irish dances and features light hopping, sliding, skipping and pointing. Only women dance the slip jig. In the Richens Academy, the first dance learned is the soft jig.

Reel:

The reel originated around 1750 in Scotland and the Irish dance masters brought it to full development. The music is 4/4 time and it is danced at a relatively fast tempo (ONE-two-three-four). Both men and women dance the reel. For women, it is a light, rapid soft shoe dance that allows for plenty of leaping and demands an energetic performance from the dancer. Men often dance the reel in hard shoes.

Often a feis will include a special competition in the treble reel. Here, dancers in a single line have two chances to display their best efforts in a competition matching boys and girls from multiple age groups. Usually, audiences are extremely enthusiastic in their appreciation for this exciting performance.

Hornpipe:

The hornpipe began around 1760, evolving from English stage acts. It was originally danced exclusively by males in hard shoes, but now, both men and women compete. It is reported that the ladies of Cork were the first to brazenly perform the hornpipe in the male style. The hornpipe is in 4/4 time, reminiscent of a slow reel with accents on the first and third beat (ONE-and-a two-and-a three-and-a four-and-a). A notable feature is the frequent use of a rocking motion with the ankles.

Set Dances:

A set dance is performed to a specific tune which has remained set over time (at least during the 20th Century). Both males and females dance sets in hard shoes. Competitions begin at the level of "Open" because of the difficulty of the dances. Because the tune is always the same and the dancer knows the tune, adjudicators expect greater interpretation of the music. (In the jig, reel, and hornpipe competitions, the particular tune may vary depending on the musician). The dances can be either in jig or hornpipe time. In one case, "Is the Big Man Within?" the time changes mid-tune. Regular jigs and hornpipes follow a particular structure of the number of measures per tune, but sets vary. Sets contain two parts, the first is the "lead around" (from 8 to 16 measures), the second is the "set" (12 to 16 measures). Some tunes are more than 250 years old, but most of the dances are of more recent origin, developed by dance masters. Also, some of the tunes have accompanying words.

Competitively danced sets come from an approved list of dances. Some are the "planxties" such as Planxty Drury and Planxty Davis. These tunes are over 200 years old, many composed by a blind harpist, Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). He composed the music to honor a hospitable friend, the friend's name listed last (e.g., Drury or Davis). The word planxty probably means "good health." Another group of set dances is related to Napoleon (Downfall of Paris, Bonaparte's Retreat, Madame Bonaparte). One reason for this may have been that the Irish looked to the French for help in overthrowing English rule around Napoleon's time.

The list of set dances is long including The Hunt, Rub the Bag, The Humours of Branden (a humour appears to have been a drinking party at a particular place), The Piper through the Meadow Straying, Kilkenny Races, The Ace and Deuce of Pipering, The Three Sea Captains, King of the Fairies, Blackthorn Stick, The Drunken Gauger, and Hurry the Jug. Fairly often, a tune is known by more than one name. Tempos vary from the 60s to more than 100 beats per minute.

Another group of sets, including St. Patrick's Day, The Blackbird, Garden of Daisies, and Job of Journeywork, are considered to be traditional dances. These are all very old tunes and were part of early Irish dance history. The title The Blackbird is actually "code" for Bonnie Prince Charles who tried to overthrow the English with a group of Scotsmen. Garden of Daisies should be the Garden of Deise, an area in County Waterford. They traditionally perform this group of dances at a fast tempo without high jumps or lifts.

Another type of dance is the "group set dance." They are danced in reel, hornpipe, or jig time and are derived from French quadrilles. These group dances differ from ceili dances in that they are less sophisticated.

Ceili Dances:

Ceili dances were derived from group set dances and French quadrilles, but were set to Irish music. They appear to have evolved with the help of the Irish dance masters, many from County Kerry. Nationalism, combined with the Handbook of Irish Dances published in 1902, led to standardization of ceili dances. Recording the descriptions of these dances occurred through the 1930s. For example, the Sweets of May and A Trip to the Cottage were discovered in South Armagh, being known only to a group of elderly men and women. Luckily, many ceili dances were recorded before being lost in history.

A "ceili" is a gathering for music and dance. The Gaelic League sponsored the first Irish ceili in 1897. They borrowed the idea from the Scots and a precedent was set that a piper opened the ceili. Because the ceili dance revival was not widespread at that time, the dances at the first Irish ceili consisted of group set dances and French quadrilles! Annually, a ceili dance is sponsored by the Richens Academy Booster Association for the benefit of the Academy.

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 discouraged by the English. The feises of today are primarily dancing competitions, but music, language, cooking and other competitions are often also held.

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.

Globelization:

The subject of globelization of Irish and other dance forms is an important topic to consider. The 2001 Congress on Research in Dance Conference is being held in New York City. One of the papers to be presented is one on Irish dance, "Inventing Tradition: Global Development of Irish Dance". The conference will explore the ways in which dance forms circulate across communities, regions and nations, acquiring new meanings as they travel. While the term "globalization" has gained currency in scholarly debatesof recent years, the dispersion of performance practices is hardly a new phenomenon. Thus, the conference will include both historical and contemporary analyses of dances' migrations. The commercialization of folk styles in shows such as "River Dance" is one aspect of this.

Recent Developments:

HBC readers report that there have been major developments in Irish dancing in recent years, especially since River Dance. One impact is that many more boys are interested in participating now. River Dance has also affected dance styles and costuming. These developments have been noted in Ireland, America, and other countries where Irish dance has proven popular, primarily countries like America with large numbers of people tracing their ancestry to Irish immigrants.