| Just like other dances from around the world, Irish | | | | are the popular The Waves of Tory, The Walls of |
| dances are opportunities to socialize and to perform | | | | Limerick, and the Bonfire Dance. All of these dances |
| for family and friends as well as admirers. Lest you | | | | require fast and complex movements made to the |
| go into thinking that Irish dancing is just the step | | | | music of Irish instruments like the hand drum and the |
| dancing of the highly popular Riverdance and Lord of | | | | harp. |
| the Dance performance, think again. Irish dances are | | | | Performance Dances |
| as varied, as colorful and as engaging as Irish culture | | | | As previously mentioned, performance Irish dancing |
| itself. | | | | was made popular by theRiverdance and the Lord of |
| Social Irish Dances | | | | the Dance shows. Both use the techniques of |
| The first category of Irish dances is the social | | | | stepdancing, which is characterized by rapid, precise |
| dances, which are further classified into set dancing | | | | and brisk leg movements coupled by stationary upper |
| and céilí dancing. Both are performed as part of | | | | bodies and straight arms although the elbows can be |
| daily life although these dances can also be enjoyed | | | | bent in some movements. |
| on stage, thanks to changes in perception of the | | | | Most performance dancers on stage started their |
| differences of venue between social and | | | | training during their childhood years. The steps are |
| performance dances. | | | | mentally complicated and physically demanding that |
| Set dances are performed by four couples in quadrille | | | | training is an important part of dance success |
| fashion. You can choose from more than 70 set | | | | although talent does play a large part in the makings |
| dances in the Irish dance repertoire, all of which share | | | | of the likes of Jean Butler & Michael Flatley. |
| basic dance steps and terms although with significant | | | | This does not mean, however, that more mature |
| variations once the music starts playing. | | | | people are barred from taking classes in stepdancing. |
| Just to name a few of these set dances, there are | | | | Anybody from 6 to 66 can join and enjoy Irish |
| Aran, Ardgroom, Ballinascarty Halfset, Ballyvourney Jig | | | | stepdancing and the other social dances even if the |
| and Reel, Caledonian, Camden Hornpipe, Down | | | | audiences are just family and friends. |
| Lancers, Durrow Threshing Set, East Galway, | | | | Stepdancing is performed using either soft shoes or |
| Fermanagh, Inis Meain, Kildownet Halfset, | | | | hard shoes. The costumes for the women are |
| Labasheeda, Monaghan, Portmagee Miserk, Sliabh | | | | composed of the basic short skirt and tights while |
| Luachra, Spa Televara, and Williamstown. | | | | men are in dancing trousers. The costumes hark back |
| Céilí dances can be performed by as little as 2 | | | | to the old times of Irish dances although modern |
| persons and as many as 16 or more members. The | | | | variations are being introduced. |
| dancers can perform in many formations from the | | | | Irish dancing is for everybody. You just have to |
| long lines and circles to the quadrilles and couples only. | | | | choose which one answers your calling to be a |
| As such, each region often has a variation of any of | | | | dancer and then become a master at it. Or better |
| the popular céilí dances in the mainland. | | | | yet, you can try your hand at everything. |
| Just to name a few of the céilí dances, there | | | | |