What is traditional Irish dancing called?

Irish stepdance is a style of performance dance with its roots in traditional Irish dance. It is generally characterized by a stiff upper body and fast and precise movements of the feet. In Irish dance culture, a Feis is a traditional Gaelic arts and culture festival.

Who invented Irish dancing?

The roots of Irish dancing come from the Celts and the druids who roamed the island before the onset of Christianity and outside influences came along. Many of the druids’ religious rituals involved dancing, usually in a circular fashion around sacred trees. The Celts had their own folk dances with similar formations.

How did dance become a part of Irish culture?

Dance was taught by “travelling dance masters” across Ireland throughout this period, and separate dance forms developed according to regional practice and differing purposes. Irish dance became a significant part of Irish culture, particularly for Irish nationalist movements. From the early 20th century,…

What are the different types of Irish dance sets?

There are multiple traditional sets, including St. Patrick’s Day, Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, Three Sea Captains, Garden of Daisies, and King of the Fairies. Competitive dancers generally dance two or three steps at a time, depending on their dancing level.

What do people wear to an Irish dance competition?

Today most women and girls wear a wig, a bun or hairpiece for a competition, but some still curl their own hair. Costumes are heavily integrated into the Irish dance culture and feature traditional elements of classic peasant wear adorned with Celtic designs. Most men wear a shirt, vest, and tie paired with black trousers.

What was the name of the Irish dancing League?

In 1929, the League formed An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG, The Irish Dancing Commission) in order to codify and standardise stepdancing competition and education.