Thursday 23 May 2013

Irish Dance Lessons Teach A Wide Range Of Performance Types

By Vicki Diaz


Irish dance lessons are popular across the world nowadays, and not just among the descendants of Irish people. This type of dancing is varied in the kind of dances and styles of dance that you can learn. Both individual and group dancing is taught in this kind of dancing class.

It is possible to divide Irish dancing into solo dancing and dances which are performed with groups of people taking part. There is considerable overlap between them though, in terms of the types of dances performed and the skills required. Unlike other Celtic dance, such as that in Scotland, arm movement is kept to a minimum to allow the dancer to demonstrate control and skill.

There are four types of tune used in dancing styles which originate from Ireland, with perhaps the most famous of these being the jig. The hornpipe and the reel are also common in this style of dancing, while set dances also exist for groups of people. Step dances are also divided into several categories, with light, heavy, and single jigs being used, as well as the reel and the hornpipe.

If you enjoy dancing at speed, then the light jig is for you, though you will need to be very quick about the feet indeed. The feet rarely rise above a foot off the ground in this type of dance. The dancer must also perform each action three times during each bar of music, a real feat of quickness.

The heavy jig is another variety, only the emphasis is on sound and stamping feet, rather than delicate speed. Heavier shoes than normal are worn in order to create the kind of stamping sounds which should accompany the heavy jig. Another kind of jig is the slip jig, which, in contrast to the heavy jig, is performed lightly and has been compared to ballet.

A slip jig is performed to music which is played in 9/8 time, as opposed to the 6/8 time of the light jig. Jigs can be danced solo by either male or female dancers, as well as in groups. Couples can dance them, made up of men and women, or men or women in pairs, or in groups with two to eight couples taking part.

Set dances involve larger numbers of people, with the dancers organised around the sides of a square. Groups of four couples usually perform this kind of dance, which is danced on the soles of the feet. Leaps are kept to a minimum in this variety of dancing from Ireland, largely because they involve larger numbers of people than many other kinds.

Irish dance lessons can open up a whole new world, with many more interesting features on offer than those detailed above. Classes in this type of dancing are often a great social occasion too, and can be a great way of meeting new friends and getting together with old ones. Of course, dancing is also a superb way of getting fit and staying fit while doing something that you enjoy.




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