The dance instructor called out “forward treble, brush, brush, hop” to the room full of students. At least that’s what I think she said. This was my first attempt at the popular Irish jig. My fifth month into a yearlong culture trip exploring traditions from twelve different countries had me learning céilís (dances) of the Emerald Isle. A name you may be more familiar with is Riverdance from 1994. Michael Flatley and cast put on a show at the Eurovision Contest that ignited a firestorm. The troupes’ traditional stiff upper torso and flailing legs was accompanied by Flatley’s never seen before twirling arms and syncopation to new musical rhythm. The art was transformed. Fast forward twenty-four years and people of all ages still want to emulate the moves. Irish dance studios are at capacity in cities around the world. Students are flying to Ireland for competitions. As with anything, the better one is at an endeavor, the easier they make it look. This holds true for step dancing. But, with a little perseverance, stumbling starts to look like a jig! You can learn Irish step dance, too. Here are a few tips! Find an Irish Dance Studio Most cities have a least one studio, if not more. Classes usually range from beginners to championship level, and span a broad age group. I signed up for the adult beginners class. Instructors advise you start by taking lessons only one hour a week, and practice, practice, practice at home. A helpful tip is to video yourself at class and watch at home when rehearsing. There are two different kinds of shoes. The ghillie is similar to ballet flats, but with laces sometimes tied around the ankle. The hard shoe - or “heavies” - are leather uppers with a raised
The dance instructor called out “forward treble, brush, brush, hop” to the room full of students. At least that’s what I think she said. This was my first attempt at the popular Irish jig. My fifth month into a yearlong culture trip exploring traditions from twelve different countries had me learning céilís (dances) of the
