Written by Beth Jordahl
“Irish dance doesn’t fit in a box. Irish dance is whatever it means to the person who is passionate about that activity. It grows and changes with everyone it touches.”
- The Gazette (Teelin Irish Dance Company)
There is something magical about Irish dance. Strong dancers working together to create rhythm, pattern, sounds, and pictures. The curly hair, the green or vibrant costumes, and the still arms all contribute to a dance form that is very unique.
Irish dance is definitely a key component of our studio. So as we celebrate this form of dance and St. Patrick’s day this week, here are some fun facts:
1. Irish dance may have started as early as 1600 B.C.
While there isn’t much documentary evidence of Irish culture prior to the 17th century, due to Viking invasion. It is believed that these early tribal dances were accompanied by the music of the Tuatha de Danaan, or "skilled workers." The dances would have been a part of spiritual rituals, work, war, courting, and social recreation.
The first documented evidence of dancing is an account of the Mayor of Waterford’s visit to Baltimore, County Cork in 1413, where they took to the floor to celebrate Christmas.
2. Irish dancers actually did “Take the Cake”
The phrase “takes the cake” has been found to be used as far back as the 5th century, and became very popular in early 20th century as “cake walks.”
Before those traditions, Irish dancers actually held “cake dances”! The cake would be put in the middle of a field, and they would hold a dance competition for the opportunity to take the cake home.
3. Irish dancers may have started holding their arms straight to fool the Brits.
Of course, not all Irish dances involve still arms. So why is it a common practice today? Riverdance definitely popularized the still arm style in the 90s, but even before that there may have been any number of reasons. Here are a few hypothesis:
- Religious reasons, perhaps the church didn’t want boys and girls holding hands.
- Proper manners, etiquette may have dictated that still arms were more proper.
- Lack of space. pubs were tight spaces, so maybe they had to keep their arms still. They would also take doors off their hinges and lay them down to dance on top of and it would have left very little space for the dancers.
- And lastly, the English had forbidden the Irish from singing or dancing or celebrating their culture, so parents started teaching their children to dance with their arms down. This way, if anyone looked in through a waist high window, it would appear as if the dancers were actually just meandering around.
What do you think? It could have been a combination of all of these reasons.
4. There are three types of Irish dance shoes.
There are two types of soft shoes, Ghillies and Reel Shoes. Ghillies fit similar to ballet slippers and are laced from toe to ankle. They are quiet and flexible shoes. They are worn by female dancers for reels, jigs, and group dances. Reel Shoes are a soft shoe worn by male dancers. They are similar to jazz shoes, and some of them have a fiberglass heel.
The hard shoes are sometimes called “heavies” or jig shoes. They tend to be bulkier and typically have fiberglass tips for a louder sound. Originally in the 17th and 18th century, the sound was created with wooden taps attached to the shoe with metal nails.
5. Irish dance culture is now a global tradition.
Today Irish dance is taught all over the world. Championships are held in Dublin every Easter for competitors from around the globe. And some traditional dances, such as, the Feis (feast dances) and Ceilis (small group dances) are still held by Irish and Irish dance lovers alike. The rich tradition and history of Irish dance continues to run strong as it influences the ever-evolving performance and celebration aspect of this beautiful dance style.
If you would like to try a Irish Dance class, email info@turningpointeschoolofdance.com to schedule a solo or small group lesson, in-studio or online!