Irish Dancing

 

Irish dancing was of course originated in Ireland and is now danced all over the world. To South Africa this is still a relatively new dance form, however it is growing daily. Irish dancing caught South Africa’s attention when it was sky-rocketed into the spotlight by several dance shows that started traveling the globe, the most well-known of these being Micheal Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. This international exposure has made it recognisable for its rigid leg movements and stiff upper body.

Irish Dancing, in its professional format, as mentioned above, has only been danced in South Africa for a few years. It may be new for us, however we’ve made brilliant progress in such a short space of time.

Irish dancing is a competitive sport danced either solo or in groups for Ceili dancing. It is characterised by quick, precise foot movements with a controlled upper body. In the solo sections you dance both ‘soft shoe’ and ‘hard shoe’ dances. The difference is not just what the name suggests but also in the movements. The ‘soft shoe’ is more elegant, while the ‘hard shoe’ is more rigid.

Irish Dancing Shoes with loops for the laces

 As mentioned above the name ‘soft shoe’ and ‘hard shoe’ acurately discribes the type of shoes worn during these dances. In ‘soft shoe’ leather pumps with loops (the highland dancing shoes have hoops).

Hard Shoes

The ‘hard shoes’ are similar to that of tap shoes however the heels and tips are made of fibreglass to get the best sound out of them.