Irish dancing is a very important part of the culture and heritage of Ireland. It has become hugely popular in recent years. Irish dancing teachers worldwide are teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Irish boys and girls the traditional reels and Irish jig shoes. With the success of the worldwide production the Riverdance, it has encouraged a lot of children to learn Irish dancing and want to follow their ancestors. Irish dancers can compete regularly in Irish dancing competitions and all hoping to qualify for bigger competitions such as the world championships which brings many dancing competitors together from all over the world and who want to become the best in the world.
History of Irish dancing
The Irish dancing roots come from the Druids and the Celts who roamed the island before the onset of Christianity and other influences outside. The religious rituals of the druids involved dancing around a tree in a circular motion. The Celts had similar formations. Singing and music naturally came along with the dancing. The feis is one of the most popular dancing and music showcases for music and Irish dancing. Dancers compete to win trophies and medals. In the 12th century, the Normans invaded Ireland and brought many of their native customs and dance routines with them. In and around the 18th-century Irish dancing became more disciplined, formations and different styles came about.
There are 3 different types of Irish dancing routines social or ceili routines, step routines, Irish dancing, and sean nos. In all cases, the style is relatively regimented and formal, with a strict number of steps to be completed, precise and quick foot movement, and little upper body movement. The most popular form of Irish dancing was the ceili routines.
Each type of dance falls into one of the two categories: hard shoe and soft shoe. Hard shoe dances include treble reel, hornpipe, and treble jig. Soft shoe dances include single jigs, slips, reels, and light jigs.
The dancing costumes play a huge part in Irish dancing. The girls generally wear specially designed dresses that are decorative with embellished Celtic designs and they often wear wigs. The boys would generally wear a shirt, vest, dark trousers, and a tie.
Dancing shoes
There are two types of dancing shoes soft shoes and hard jig shoes. The soft shoes include the pumps for superior comfort. The hard jig shoes include hard shoes for good fit and click heel noise.
Guide to buy:
Benefits of using quality jig shoes
When buying Irish dancing shoes, quality is the most important thing. You should always pay a little bit more. The shoes are a key piece to wedding Irish dancers as they must be comfortable and secure while they dance and entertain a crowd. It would be best if you had the proper shoes for competitive and higher-level wedding dancers. It changes the comfort and the overall look of the dancer. Always ensure the shoes fit correctly and are the right size before purchasing them.
Quality jig shoes will avoid any discomfort or any other problems
If your shoes are not quality and too narrow on the feet, your toes will become sore from pressure and rubbing. Having high-quality jig shoes while dancing will avoid possible inflammation and friction.
Quality jig shoes will regulate foot moisture.
Many weddings have entertainment for 2 to several hours, which means their feet are poorly ventilated during the day. Exceptional-quality leather jig shoes are breathable and absorb humidity and moisture.
Prevent foot odour
Synthetic materials do not allow the shoes to breathe, producing fungi and bacteria and sometimes bad odour smell. By purchasing quality shoes this should help you avoid bad odour.
It will save you money in the long term.
Wedding dancers perform several wedding routines and performances in a year, so it is highly important that they use and dance in only the best shoes on the market. Purchasing good-quality jig shoes should last you many years rather than poor-quality ones. Keep your shoes protected, clean, and hydrated. You could extend your shoe’s life immensely.
