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Irish dances can broadly be divided into social dances and performance dances. Irish social dancing can be divided further into céilí and set dancing. Irish set and céilí dances are usually danced by formations (sets) of couples, often in squares of four couples. Irish social dance is a living tradition, and variations in particular dances are found across the Irish dance community; in some places, dances are deliberately modified and new dances are choreographed.

Irish performance dancing is traditionally referred to as stepdance. Irish stepdance, popularised in 1994 by the world-famous show "Riverdance," is notable for its rapid leg movements, body and arms being kept largely stationary. Most competitive stepdances are solo dances, though many stepdancers also perform and compete using traditional set and céilí dances. The solo stepdance is generally characterized by a controlled but not rigid upper body, straight arms, and quick, precise movements of the feet. The dancing traditions of Ireland probably grew in close association with Irish traditional music. Originating in Pre-Christian Ireland, Irish dance was later influenced by dance forms from the Continent, especially the Quadrille. Travelling dancing masters taught all over Ireland as late as the early 1900s.

Contents 1 Irish céilí dances 2 Irish set dances 3 Sean Nós 4 Irish stepdance 4.1 Roots of Irish stepdance 4.2 Dances 4.3 Shoes and costume 4.4 Competition structure 5 References 6 External links 6.1 General information 6.2 International, national, and regional Irish dance organizations 6.3 An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission (CLRG)

Irish social, or céilí (pronounced /ˈkeɪli/ in English) dances vary widely throughout Ireland and the rest of the world. A céilí dance may be performed with as few as three people and as many as sixteen. Céilí dances may also be danced with an unlimited number of couples in a long line or proceeding around in a circle (such as in "Shoe the Donkey", "The Walls of Limerick," or "Bonfire Dance"). Céilí dances are often fast and complex. In a social setting, a céilí dance may be "called" -- that is, the upcoming steps are announced during the dance for the benefit of newcomers.

The term céilí dance was invented in the late 19th century by the Gaelic League to distinguish non-quadrille dances from the quadrille-based set dances, which were thought to be a British or foreign import to Ireland.

Céilí as a noun differs from the adjective céilí. A céilí is a social gathering featuring Irish music and dance. Céilí dancing is a specific type of Irish dance. Some céilithe (plural of céilí) will only have céilí dancing, some will only have set dancing, and some will have a mixture.

In various parts of Ireland on St. Stephen's Day, December 26th, Wrenboys (mummers) celebrate Wren Day (also pronounced as the Wran) by dressing up in straw masks and colourful clothing and parading through towns and villages accompanied by traditional céilí music bands. This tradition also exists (or existed) in various parts of Britain, especially Wales.

Set dances are folk dances of Ireland based on French quadrilles. Most are done in square sets of four couples and consist of several "figures," each of which has a number of parts. The styles of the various steps in a dance vary from place to place and from set to set. The sets come from various parts of Ireland and are often named for their place of origin; examples are the Corofin Plain Set, the South Galway Set and the Clare Lancers Set. The music can be a reel, jig, slide or polka, but though types of tunes are frequently mixed within the set, only one type is used for a given figure.

Irish set dancing is popular throughout Ireland as well as in Canada, the United States, Australia, Europe and other countries. Social set dancing is not usually competitive, but Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann does hold competitions. The term "traditional set dancing" also describes a different type of competitive solo stepdancing taught by Irish dance schools.

Sean-Nós, literally meaning "old style", is a highly improvised solo form danced to Irish traditional music. It is found primarily in Connemara, its birthplace, and features more body motion than is found in the more well known Irish stepdance. The footwork is primarily in a "battering" style. The impromptu and low-key Sean-Nós is danced to a lively traditional band.

Main article: Irish stepdance

Stepdancing as a modern form is descended directly from sean nós ("old style") stepdancing^{[citation needed]}. There are several different forms of stepdancing in Ireland (such as the Connemara style stepdancing), but the style most familiar is the Munster, or southern, form, which has been formalised by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha—the Irish Dancing Commission.

Irish stepdancing is primarily done in competitions, public performances or other formal settings.

Irish solo stepdances fall into two broad categories based on the shoes worn: hard shoe and soft shoe dances.

Soft shoe dances include the reel, slip jig, light jig, and single jig. Reels have a 4/4 time signature. Slip jigs are in 9/8 time. Light and single jigs are in 6/8 time, with different emphasis within the measure distinguishing the music. Hard shoe dances include the hornpipe, in 2/4 time, the treble jig, in a slow 6/8, the treble reel, and traditional sets, which are a group of 36 dances with set music and steps. Many traditional sets have irregular musical phrasing. There are also more advanced "non-traditional sets" done by advanced dancers. These have set music, but not steps.

The céilí dances used in competitions are more precise versions of those danced in less formal settings. There is a list of 30 céilí dances which have been standardised and published in An Coimisiún's Ar Rinncidhe Foirne as examples of typical Irish folk dances; these are called the "book" dances by competitive stepdancers. Most stepdance competitions only ask for a short piece of any given figure dance, in the interests of time.

Two types of shoes are worn in step dancing: hard shoes and soft shoes. The hard shoe is similar to tap shoes, except that the tips and heels are made of fiberglass, instead of metal, and are significantly bulkier. The first hard shoes had wooden or leather taps with metal nails. Later the taps and heels were changed into resin or fiberglass to reduce the weight and to increase the footwork sounds. The soft shoes, which are called ghillies, resembles a ballet shoe minus the hard toe and the ribbons for laces. Ghillies are only worn by girls while boys wear a black leather shoe which resembles a black jazz shoe with a hard heel. Boys soft-shoe dancing features audible heel clicks.

Several generations ago the appropriate dress for a competition was simply your "Sunday Best". In the 1980s ornately embroidered dresses became popular. Today even more ornamentation is used on girls' dresses, including lace, sequins, silk, extensive embroidery, feathers, and more. Irish Dancing schools have team dresses, but dancers, once they reach a level decided by their school, may get a solo dress of their own design and colors. Today in competition, most men wear a shirt, vest, and tie paired with black pants.

An organized step dance competition is referred to as a feis (pronounced /ˈfɛʃ/, plural feiseanna). The word feis means "festival" in Irish, and strictly speaking would also have competitions in music and crafts. Féile (/ˈfeɪlə/) is a more correct term for the dance competition, but the terms may be used interchangeably. Dance competitions are divided by age and level of expertise.

An annual regional Championship competition is known as an oireachtas (/oʊˈrɒktəs/). Dancers from each age group may qualify for the World Championships. Qualifying for the World Championships, Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, (roughly translated to Irish Dance Championship of the World) varies slightly due to the competition or region. In the United States, dancers may qualify at either a Regional Oireachtas, or the North American Championships, which includes the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The World Championships have in years past only been held in Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, however in 2009, for the first time they will be held in the United States in Philadelphia.

• Helen Brennan: The Story of Irish Dancing, Mount Eagle Publications Ltd., 1999 ISBN 0 86322 244 7
• John Cullinane: Aspects of the History of Irish Céilí Dancing, The Central Remedial Clinic, Clontarf, Dublin 3,(1998), ISBN 0-952-79522-1
• An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha: Ár Rincí Fóirne-Thirty Popular Céilí Dances, Westside Press (2003)
• J. G. O' Keeffe, Art O' Brien: A Handbook of Irish Dances, 1. Edition, O'Donoghue & Co., (1902)[1]
• Pat Murphy: Toss the Feathers - Irish Set Dancing, Mercier Press, 1995 ISBN 1-85635-115-7
• Pat Murphy: The Flowing Tide - More Irish Set Dancing, Mercier Press, 2000 ISBN 1-85635-308-7

• O'Keeffe & O'Brien - A Handbook of Irish Dance (1902)
• Diochra.com: Discover Irish dance!
• Beginners Guide to Irish Dancing
• Information for new dancers
• The History of Irish Dance
• Irish Step Dancing
• Set Dance

• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann
• An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission
• Nordic Society of Irish Dancers
• Danish Society of Irish Dancers
• Japan Irish Dancing Association
• World Irish Dance Association
• Cumann Rince Náisiúnta
• American Association of Irish Dancers and Teachers
• Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa / Organisation of Goodwill and Excellence in Irish Dancing
• Western Canada Irish Dancing Teachers Association
• Newcastle Irish Set Dancers (Australia)

• An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha / The Irish Dancing Commission
• Registered Teachers of Mainland Europe
• Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America
• Traditional Irish Dancing Association of New Zealand
• Australian Irish Dancing Association