Irish dance Shows

There are two main Irish dance shows in the United States: namely Riverdance, and Lord of the Dance.

Riverdance
Riverdance was first performed in 1994 at the Eurovision Song Contest in Ireland. The country that hosts the song contest usually performs a song or two representative of the host nation. Ireland chose to showcase its Irish dancing with the seven-minute routine known as “Riverdance”.

In the first performance the lead dancers were Michael Flately and Jean Butler. They stayed on as the original leads in the Riverdance – The Show production, which officially opened at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland on February 9, 1995.

On March 14, 1996 Riverdance opened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City with Colin Dunne as the new male lead.

Riverdance troupes continue to travel throughout the world performing at corporate events and performance venues around the globe.

Lord of the Dance
After Michael Flatley left Riverdance, he created the show "Lord of the Dance", a dazzling display of purely Irish dance and music. The first performance of Lord of the Dance was on July 2, 1996 at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland.

In 1997 Lord of the Dance opened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City to a sell-out crowd. Since its inception, Lord of the Dance has shattered various box-office records, including having 21 consecutive sell-out shows at London’s Wembley Arena in 1998.

Troupes for this show continue to perform at venues around the world.

To be in these shows, a dancer must have medaled at the World Championships, and the shows hold auditions for dancers frequently.

Riverdance and Lord of the Dance are the two most influential Irish dance shows created. Watching Riverdance is what initially got me interested in Irish dancing. These shows have given older dancers the opportunity to make a living while doing something they love. Riverdance and Lord of the Dance have helped to boost the popularity of this art form throughout the world.

Sources:
Lord of the Dance. (2008). Touring History. Retrieved March 26, 2008 from http://www.lordofthedance.com/

Riverdance. (2005). Riverdance: The Journey. Retrieved March 26, 2008 from http://www.riverdance.com/htm/theshow/thejourney/index.htm

Major Competitions

The major competitions in Irish dance are many: namely regional Oireachtasi, National Championships, and World Championships.

Oireachtas
In the United States, the Irish dancing community is divided into five regions – Mid-Atlantic region, New England Region, Southern Region, Western Region, and Mid-America region.

Each region holds an Oireachtas in November or December within its respective area. For example, my school is in the Mid-Atlantic region and our Oireachtas is the weekend of Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania. The Oireachtas are open to any prizewinner or championship-level dancer, although it is usually the discretion of the teachers as to what students are able to compete.

Oireachtasi feature solo, ceili, figure dancing, and dance drama competitions. (Figure dancing is similar to ceili dancing except there are more than 8 dancers and the school choreographs the dance. Dance dramas are choreographed by the school and have elaborate costumes and backdrops. The dances have to tell a story.)

The top 10% of dancers in each solo competition qualifies for the World Championships.

National Championships
The North American Irish Dance Championships, or North American Nationals, are the national championships for the United States and Canada. Dancers from around the world travel to whatever city is hosting this event. It is another competition in which dancers can qualify for the world championships.

Both ceili and solo dancing is done at the Nationals. Again, the top percentage of solo dancers will qualify for the world championships.

There are also the Great Britain, All-Ireland, and All-Scotland Championships. These are the national championships for their respective countries. Like the North American Nationals, they are open to dancers from around the world.

World Championships
The World Championships of Irish dance, or Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne in Gaelic, is the most prestigious competition in Irish dancing. The Worlds are held in cities of countries where Irish dancing is most prominent. These cities include Belfast, Northern Ireland; Glasgow, Scotland; Killarney, Ireland; and in 2009 they will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the first time the World Championships will be held outside of Europe).

Sources
Carr, Darrah. (2001). Irish Dancers' Winning Ways - Oireachtas Irish dance competitions. Retrieved March 24, 2008 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_3_75/ai_70926841

Friend, Pat. (2001). An Irish Feis – Competition in Dance. Retrieved March 24, 2008 from http://allaboutirish.com/library/dance/feis.shtm

Competition Basics

Before I get into Irish dance competitions, I just want to give you a few definitions of common words heard throughout the Irish dance world.

• A.D.C.R.G.: Ard Diploma Coimisiuin le Rinci Gaelacha (Commission Certified Irish dance Adjudicator)
• An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha: the Irish dancing commission
• Feis (fesh): an Irish step-dancing competition
• Fesianna (fesh-eena): more than one feis
• Oireachtas (uh-rock-tas): major regional, national, and international Irish dance competitions
• T.C.R.G.: Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha (Commission Certified Irish dance Teacher)

Fesianna are held throughout the country all the time. You could go to two fesianna a weekend if you didn’t mind traveling a little. In order to qualify to compete, a dancer must be enrolled in classes taught by a certified TCRG or ADCRG.

At a competition, there are various levels of competition.

• Beginner: dancers that have been dancing for less than a year
• Advanced Beginner: dancers that have been dancing more than a year
• Novice: dancers that have won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in an advanced beginner competition
• Prizewinner: has won 1st place in all novice-level dances
• Preliminary Championship: has won 1st place in all prizewinner dances
• Open Championship: has won 3 1st places in the preliminary championship level

At a feis, dancers under the age of 14 will dance with two other competitors on the stage at the same time. Most American competitions use live musicians that play from the side of the stage.

These smaller fesianna are a great opportunity for young dancers to make friends with dancers from other schools. They also give dancers a chance to learn what to improve in their weekly classes, as well as gives them confidence in their dancing abilities.

Sources:

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha. (2008). An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha – The Irish Dancing Commission. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://www.clrg.ie/english/home.php

Free Dictionary. (2008). ADCRG. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/ADCRG

Free Dictionary. (2008). TCRG. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/TCRG

Friend, Pat. (2001). An Irish Feis – Competition in Dance. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from http://allaboutirish.com/library/dance/feis.shtm

Ceili Dancing

Ceili (pronounced kay-lie) dancing is sometimes called group or team dancing. It can also be used to refer to a dancing event in which ceilis will be danced. Ceilis can have 2, 4, or 8 dancers dancing together. Ceilis were originally danced at houses in Irish villages.

There are a variety of ceili dances that can be organized into social dances and competitive dances.

The social ceili dances are done at parties, wakes, and ceilis. These include the Gay Gordons, Siege of Ennis, and the Humours of Bandon. Social ceili dances, when danced at ceilis, are usually followed by refreshments and time for dancers to catch up with friends and fellow dancers.

Competitive ceili dances are danced at smaller competitions, as well as on the regional, national, and international level. These ceili teams are judged on how well the dancers can execute the dance, their positioning, and their lines and angles that they form while dancing. These dances make rings, lines, and square patterns on the floor.

Both boys and girls do competitive ceili dances in soft-shoes. Some of these dances include the Sweets of May, the Trip to the Cottage, the Cross-Reel, the four-hand reel and jig, and the High Caul Cap.

Ceili dancing is one of the most difficult kinds of dances to master competitively. The team needs to be able to work together and flow as one unit. There is no one dancer in competitive ceili dancing. The team must work together to make the lines, angles, and patterns flawless. Without good teamwork, a competitive ceili team will not succeed.

Sources
Meehan, Madeline. (2008). A Brief History of Irish Set Dance, Ceili Dance, Traditional Old-style Step Dance, Irish Step Dance and Sean-Nos Dance. Retrieved March 22, 2008 from http://www.ceili.wizardisland.org/dance.html

Middleton, Ashley. (1999). Jumpstart Guide. Retrieved March 22, 2008 from http://www.diochra.com/jumpstart/faqclrg.php#1-3

Youtube. (2007). CMC-UIUC's 2007 Show - 'Trip'. Retrieved March 22, 2008 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpPEVNkjoJM

Types of Dances -- Hard Shoe

The hard shoe dances are probably the most distinctive of all the Irish dances. Hard shoes are similar to the boys’ soft-shoes, except they have a fiberglass tip and heel. The tips and heels are used to make the thundering beats that are at the core of hard shoe dances. Boys and girls wear the same shoes for hard shoe dances.


There are four dances that are performed in hard shoes. These are heavy jigs, hornpipes, hard shoe reels, and all set dances.

Heavy Jigs
Heavy, or hard shoe, jigs are performed in 6/8 time by both boys and girls. Jigs are usually very aggressive and contain many clicks, both in the front and behind the dancer, as well as fast trebles (taps) and loud stamps.

Hornpipes
Hornpipes are danced in 4/4 time. At first, men were only allowed to dance hornpipes because of the aggressive, brazen nature of the dance. Today, both men and women dance hornpipes. The hornpipe is different from the heavy jig in that it is much more forceful with short, staccato trebles.

Hard shoe Reels
Hard shoe reels are performed by both boys and girls and are usually very creative. Hard shoe reels are not done in normal competitions, but are usually done for shows or other performances. The lively reel music gives dancers a chance to showcase their fastest footwork. Many competitions hold special hard shoe reel competitions, which is a crowd favorite.

Set Dances
Set dances are danced to either jig or hornpipe music that has not changed in at least a century. Set dances are performed by the highest level of competitors due to the difficult steps that are included in the dance. Because the music has not changed, judges often are very critical of how the dancer interprets the music during his or her set piece.

Some of the most common set dances include Planxty Drury, The Blackthorn Stick, The Drunken Gauger, King of the Fairies, and The Blue-Eyed Sailor.

Along with common set dances, Irish dancers also dance traditional set dances. These dances are learned by every student in every dance school around the world. There are several variations to these dances, but most of the movements are the same, regardless of the school one attends.

The traditional set dances include Saint Patrick’s Day, The Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, and The Garden of Daises.

Sources:

Dudney Irish Dance School. (1996). Irish Step Dancing – A Brief History. Retrieved March 19, 2008 from http://www.dudneyirishdance.com/options/history.html

Flynn, Arthur. (1999). Irish Dance – The Dances. Retrieved March 19, 2008 from http://www.irelandseye.com/dance.html

Types of Dances -- Soft Shoe

When I first watched Riverdance, I was mesmerized by the intricate footwork of the hard shoe dances, but was also impressed by the graceful elegance of the soft-shoe dances. I’ve decided to break up the Irish dances by the shoes worn for each.

Each dance school choreographs its own steps to reel, jig, slip jig, or hornpipe music. The only dances that have common steps are the traditional set dances, which I will talk about later.

Dances are referred as "soft shoe dances" when the dancers wear shoes without the fiberglass taps. Girls wear ghillies (bottom picture), which are similar to ballet shoes, while boys wear shoes similar to hard shoes (top picture), only without a fiberglass tip on the front.

There are three solo dances that are performed in soft-shoes, and all ceili dancing is done in soft-shoe. These dances are the reel, light jig, and slip jig.

Reel
Both boys and girls dance reel dances. Reels are performed in 4/4 time and at a very fast pace. For girls, the reel steps are light are very quick with many fast jumps and intricate footwork. Boys steps have evolved quite a bit within the past few years to include many high jumps and clicks with intricate legwork.

Light Jig
Like the reel, both boys and girls perform the light jigs. The light jig steps are the most basic and contain the essential movements of Irish dance. The music for light jigs is in 6/8 time. Since these steps tend to be the most basic, a dancer does not compete in light jig after reaching a certain level.

Slip Jig
The slip jig is the only dance that is performed by only girls because it is the most graceful of all the dances. Performed in 9/8 time, slip jigs usually have high kicks, leaps, sharp turns and points, and quick footwork that let the dancer glide across the floor. Done properly, a girl dancing a slip jig seems to literally float across the stage.

Sources:

Dudney Irish Dance School. (1996). Irish Step Dancing – A Brief History. Retrieved March 19, 2008 from http://www.dudneyirishdance.com/options/history.html

Flynn, Arthur. (1999). Irish Dance – The Dances. Retrieved March 19, 2008 from http://www.irelandseye.com/dance.html

Why Irish dancers do not use their Arms

Every St. Patrick’s day, I dance at my mom’s school for her class of first graders. These inquisitive young minds never fail to ask me the same questions every year – "Is your dress heavy?" "How much did it cost?" And the one I will be answering today, "Why don’t you use your arms?"

There is no definitive answer to explain why Irish dancers do not use their arms while they dance but there are hundreds of stories and theories passed down to try to explain.

One such theory is that, during English occupation of Ireland the Irish dancers refused to use their arms as a way to protest the England’s suppression of Irish culture. It is said that, especially when the dancers performed for Queen Elizabeth, they did not use their arms as a way to rebel against England’s occupation of Ireland.

Another theory focuses on the strict rules and guidelines set up by the Catholic Church. Ireland was a very Catholic country during the 17th and 18th centuries and the Catholic Church influenced every aspect of Irish life.

The priests in the Irish villages disapproved of boys and girls touching each other, and believed that dancing would lead to inappropriate activities. To ward against potential problems, it is said that the Catholic priests banned the Irish people from dancing, especially in which they used their arms.

This did not stop the Irish. They decided that, if they could not use their hands while they danced, they would begin dancing with their arms at their sides. This way, if priests passed by houses where people were dancing, the people inside would seem to be jumping up and down instead of dancing.

Whatever the reason, Irish dancers are continually reminded by teachers to keep their arms straight and back. Whether it is because of the English or the Catholic Church, straight arms have become as common as curled hair in Irish dance.

Sources:
Sources:
Antonio Pacelli Irish Dance. (2005). Why no arms? Retrieved March 17, 2008 from http://www.antoniopacelli.com/cgi-bin/publisher/display.cgi?1255-5104-

Colleen. (2005). Why do Irish dancers keep their arms straight?. Retrieved March 17, 2008 from http://dancecolleen.homestead.com/arms.html