Irish dance name. Modern Irish dance: description, history and movements
In Ireland there is a belief that the hills are the gateway to another world. A world inhabited by fairies. It is not uncommon for people and hill dwellers to meet. And such meetings always promise something unusual. Often, following the charm of fairies, people follow them into magical land, and return after many, many years, already very old people. Those who did not succumb to temptation, or earned the gratitude of the fairies, acquired all sorts of interesting abilities and, of course, a reliable assistant. But none of those who saw the fairies remained the same.
March 4, 2018
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In relation to dance, we can say that no one who sees Irish dance remains the same. And Irish dance itself is often called “the dance of the wondrous people.” Light, unearthly jumps, sliding steps, rapid throws and leg sweeps, combined with a calm body, produce a bewitching impression. Not the usual combination of pride and mischief, dignity and temperament!
The history of Irish national dance reflects the events that took place in Ireland itself, starting from the 20th century BC and ending with the 20th century our era - migrations of peoples and invasions of conquerors, changes of religions... Every culture with which the Irish came into contact contributed to their dance tradition. Although today there are only vague ideas about the most ancient stage of the development of Irish dances, it is known that the Druids were the first to perform them. Initially, the dance had a ritual meaning: they were performed in praise of sacred trees and the sun. Coming from the mainland to Ireland, the Celts brought with them religious dances, some elements of which have survived to this day.
The oldest form of Irish dance that still survives today is called Sean-Nos. It traces its origins to the Celts who lived in the British Isles from 2000 BC. and to 200 AD. Ancient chronicles indicate that this dance is of Irish origin, although sailors from distant lands, North Africa and Spain, who visited local ports such as Limerick, brought their own national characteristics to it. Sean-Nos competitions are still held today. This dance is most popular in Western Ireland.
Around 400, after local residents had converted to Christianity, Catholic priests continued to widely use elements national culture in their worship services. The Holy Scriptures were decorated with Celtic archaic ornaments; Celtic rites and dances accompanied Christian holidays. In the 12th century, on the wave of the Anglo-Norman conquest, the traditions of the Normans, their customs and culture, including the most popular dance of that time, Carol, came to Ireland. The leader of Carol stands in the center of the circle and sings a song, which is picked up by the dancers surrounding him in a round dance. Carol's style greatly influenced the development of Irish dance.
By the 16th century, chronicles already mention three main types of Irish dances: Irish Hey, Rinnce Fada and Trenchmore. One of the oldest descriptions of the national dance is contained in a letter from Sir Henry Sidney, written to Queen Elizabeth I, who was “much amazed at the Irish melodies, as well as the dances.” Sydney described his observations of people dancing in the clearing, noting that the participants were dancing in two lines. This suggests that the English knight saw an early version of the Rinnce Fada dance.
By the middle of the 16th century, folk dances migrated to the state rooms of palaces and castles. Some of them, adapted in the English manner, gained popularity at Her Majesty's court. Among them was the Trenchmore, a version of an old peasant dance. Around the same time, Irish Hey also gained popularity.
Due to the oppression and persecution of Irish culture that began in the 18th century, national dances for a long time were performed only under the cover of strict secrecy. A proverb of that time says: “The dancer dances until he returns to the village.” Moreover, folk dancing was sharply condemned by the Christian Church. The priests called them “mad” and “bringers of misfortune.” Some historians believe that the characteristic motionless position of the hands on the belt appeared in Irish dance after the church declared the movements of the hands obscene.
In the 18th century, “dance teachers” appeared in Ireland, with whom the era of the revival of dance traditions is associated. It is unknown where this movement first began, but it played a decisive role in the preservation and development of ancient customs. Teachers traveled around the villages, teaching dance to the local peasants. The dance teachers were dressed in bright national costumes. They often arranged competitions with each other, which usually ended only when one of them fell exhausted. Many dance teachers also taught playing the musical instruments, fencing or good manners.
Varieties of Irish dance:
Solo Dances
Solo dances were developed by dance masters in the last quarter of the eighteenth century and have continued to evolve in both physical and artistic aspects since then. Today they express the greatest freedom of expression, a superb mood, a true combination of splendor, lightness and strength of movement, achieved through years of hard work. Irish solo dancing in its modern form includes the jig, hornpipe, reel and set dancing.
The Jig
As a solo dance, the jig can be performed in various forms: The Slip Jig or The Hop Jig is currently danced exclusively by women, but until about 1950, competitions for both men and pairs were held for this dance. The slip jig, danced in 9/8, is the most elegant and graceful dance performed in soft shoes and is highlighted in the Riverdance show. The Single Jig is currently performed as a light dance (without beats or sound) in 6/8 and in rare cases in 12/8. The Double Jig can be danced both in light dance (in soft shoes) and in hard shoes with tapping rhythm. If danced in hard shoes, it is sometimes referred to as The Treble Jig, or The Heavy Jig, or The Double Jig, which are danced in 6/8. The Heavy Jig is the only one that is danced exclusively in hard shoes, so that the dancer can especially emphasize the dance with sound and rhythm.
Hornpipe
In Ireland it is danced quite differently and has been performed to 2/4 or 4/4 music since the mid-eighteenth century. It is danced in hard shoes and today is one of the most popular Irish dances around the world.
The Reel
Most reel steps are performed to double reels, while single reel tunes are used more for simple steps used by beginning dancers. They are performed to 4/4 music and danced in soft shoes. The treble reel is danced in hard shoes. While it has become quite popular around the world among audiences who have ever seen Riverdance and other Irish dance shows, it is rarely (if ever) performed in competition. This dance, with its fast rhythmic beats and spectacular movements, delighted millions of spectators around the world when it was first performed as a “Riverdance” number during the Eurovision Song Contest. It can be said that in a few minutes this performance turned everything upside down in Irish dancing and provided it with more public recognition and respect than in the previous seventy years. The treble reel style gained popularity through the efforts of The National Folk Theater (Siamas Tire) under the artistic direction of Rev. Pat Ahern and teacher Patrica Hanafin from Tralee.
Solo Set Dances
Solo set dances are performed in hard shoes to special set music or excerpts of dance tunes and many of them date back to the mid-nineteenth century. Set music differs from a regular jig or hornpipe in that the latter strictly follow an 8-bar structure. Set melodies usually consist of two parts, which are divided by dancers into “the step” (the first part) and “the set” (the second part), while both the step and the set may not correspond to the 8-bar structure. In a set dance, the performer dances to strictly defined music, so that the movements and rhythm of the dance exactly match the accompanying melody. Below are some of the solo dances from the set: In 2/4 – The Blackbird, Downfall of Paris, King of The Fairies, The Lodge Road, Rodneys Glory. On 6/8 – The Blackthorn Stick, The Drunken Gauger, The Three Sea Captains, The Orange Rogue, Planxty Drury, Rub The Bag, St Patrick’s Day. On 4/4 – The Garden of Daises, The Hunt, Kilkenny Races, Madame Bonaparte, The Job of Journeywork, Youghal Harbour.
Ceilis (Ceilis – Irish Group Dances)
Ceili dances are group dances that are performed both in competitions and at ceilis (a type of social dance, dance party). Keighleys are a selection of dances with different formations - round dances, long line dances and long column dances. Thirty of them are described in the first, second and third parts of the Irish Dance Commission's collection “An Rince Foirne”, and knowledge of these thirty dances is a prerequisite for obtaining the status of an Irish dance teacher. They are danced the same way throughout the global “Irish” dance community with minor local variations. Dances performed during ceilis and competitions may vary slightly, depending on the quality good example can be cast the square into the Fairy Reel. The most common dances in competitions are 4-hand and 8-hand jigs and reels.
Social Group Set Dances
These dances, known as sets or half-sets, are derived in their variety from square dances, dances in which couples stand opposite each other to form a square. Quadrilles were very popular in Napoleonic Paris. Wellington's victorious armies became familiar with them and then introduced them into use in England and Ireland. Dance masters adapted these dances to already existing traditional steps and accelerated the tempo to the usual reels and jigs. Differences existed in the number of figures, the number of which ranged from three to six, while initially there were five. In the original quadrilles, the presence of five figures was determined by music in 6/8 and 2/4.
Group set dancing was virtually eradicated during the first seventy years of the twentieth century because it was considered alien by the Gaelic League. IN recent years Set dances such as the Kerry and Clare sets have returned to the Irish dance scene and become quite popular among middle-aged people.
Since these dances are not typically Irish, similar style dances and detailed steps can be found in many European countries, especially in Russia. Today, group set dances are often danced at very high speeds and in a wild manner that bears no resemblance to the original sets, which were characterized by strict discipline and good manners defined by the character of the set.
Today Irish dancing has conquered the whole world. Dance schools attract many students not only in Ireland itself, but also in many other countries. Irish dancing became popular everywhere. Four major competitions are held regularly - the American National Championships, the All-Ireland Championships, the British Championships and the World Championships. According to tradition, the World Championships are held in Ireland, and thousands of dancers come to attend, for whom a decent result at the championship can be the beginning of a stellar career. For example, in 1998 the World Championships, held in Ennis, attracted three thousand participants and another seven thousand coaches, teachers and fans.
Irish dancing is one of the most expressive, and beautiful dances all over the world. This outwardly emotional dance fascinates the audience with its colorfulness. In order to understand the nature of dance, its primal energy, passion, and charisma. It is necessary to take a short excursion into history ancient world, this is where Irish folk dancing got its start.
History of the Gaul settlers
The founders, or rather the first inhabitants of the territories on which the Irish state was subsequently formed, were the Gauls, who sailed here on their ships. If you take the area of settlement of the Gallic tribes, it is truly huge. There is historical evidence that the Gauls lived in Siberia, and carried out military service with the Egyptian pharaohs, were known to the Persians, and fought against the Greeks.
Therefore, it is not strange that the first colonizers of the future Ireland were the wild tribes of the Gauls. However, such warlike neighbors did not give rest to the empires, due to the predominance of the military element in the culture as the highest goal of a man’s life. Due to the fragmentation of the tribes, and the fact that the Gauls were unable to create a single conglomerate of tribes, they were almost all destroyed by larger empires or states. The Gauls began a general hunt; these tribes had to hide in deep forests and carry out their raids from there.
How did Irish dancing develop?
The era of this difficult period in the history of the Gauls left its mark on the formation of Irish culture, which became a direct heir to Gaulish customs. Therefore, it is not strange that the original Irish dance was more like a ritual of preparing warriors for battle than fun.
The warriors prepared for battle by dancing, trying to drown out the fear of possible death. Therefore, such energy, tuning and raising a hurricane of emotions in a person, accompanies Irish dancing. After Christianity came to Ireland, the clergy could not note that the culture of the Irish was much more warlike than that of other tribes that were part of the English kingdom. Therefore, the ban on dancing by the Church is logical, since the Catholic Church saw in them the spirit of paganism, which it constantly fought against.
The combination of all these factors makes Irish folk dancing unique. The immobility of the dancer's upper body encourages the viewer to concentrate all his attention exclusively on the dancers' legs. It is not strange and unusual that the dancer expresses all his feelings and emotions through the movement of his legs. This spectacle amazes everyone who witnesses this “mystery.” The dance fascinates the viewer with its rhythm and dynamics. Due to the fact that all attention is paid to the movement of the legs, special shoes are used in the dance, which are equipped with special heels to make the sounds that accompany the dance even more expressive. This dance takes the viewer to an era when Roman legionaries marched victoriously along the roads, and the Gauls had to hide in the forests.
National costume for Irish dancing
In this regard, the Irish are not particularly conservative, and this is justified, for the reason that archaism is not appropriate here, the dance should be lively, energetic, beautiful, and not dull and boring.
There are a huge number of costumes on the market that are used in dancing.
Irish dance costumes are quite specific; the girls' skirts are always short and wide, painted with ethnic British patterns.
Also, Irish dance requires specific shoes; girls use hard or soft shoes, and the former are more popular due to the price-quality ratio.
Men's dance clothing consists of tight trousers, a vest, and a shirt with wide sleeves. Of course, the clothing should have an element of green, which is the national color of Ireland.
In Irish dance, great importance is attached to the dancer's legs, due to the fact that in the national dance of this country, arm movements are completely absent.
Of course, everything you need can be purchased at any store, but only authentic Irish things can create a feeling of being in Ireland. However, only authentic Irish dancewear can make the dance unique. Therefore, you should not buy an untested product of questionable quality. You shouldn’t deprive yourself of the holiday, and good mood, order authentic Irish clothing now. And let the purchased goods bring not only a festive mood, but also unforgettable impressions and experiences that will be remembered as the most best moments life.
Irish dance - a whole group of traditional dance forms that originated in Ireland - is divided into everyday (public, social) dances and concert dances (theatrical dances or staged dances, as they are commonly called in the UK). Public or everyday Irish dances - ceili and set dances. Staged dances are traditionally called solo dances.
History of Irish dance
The earliest evidence of Irish dancing dates back to a time of constant movement of various peoples through migration and invasion of Irish territory. Each of the peoples brought with them their preferred types of dance and music. There is very little evidence of the development of Irish dance in ancient history, but there is evidence that the Druids practiced "circular" dances to perform religious rites dedicated to the Sun and the Oak, signs of which are clear today.
When the Celts filled the Irish lands, arriving from Central Europe, they, of course, had their own forms of folk dance. After the introduction of Christianity, monks illustrated consecrated manuscripts with pagan Celtic symbols, and peasants preferred to preserve the pagan spirit in music and dance. The Anglo-Norman conquests in the twelfth century correspondingly influenced the customs and culture of Ireland. Carol's music, popular among the Normans, took the following form: a soloist performed a song surrounded by dancers who echoed him in the same song. In the sixteenth century, written sources attest to three main Irish dances:
Irish "Hey" (dancers spin around partners)
Rinnce Fada (long dance)
Trenchmore (ancient peasant dance)
One of the letters from the English representative in Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney, to Elizabeth I in 1569 contains references to girls performing Irish jigs in Galway. He wrote that they were very beautiful, superbly dressed and danced first-class. In the mid-sixteenth century, dancers were invited to the large halls of newly built castles. Some dances were adapted by the English colonialists for performance in Elizabeth's royal halls, such as "Trenchmore" and "Hey". When the royalists sailed to the shores of Ireland by ship, they were met by girls performing Irish folk dance, and King George III was met by three couples in Kinsale (County Cork) in 1780. They stood in a row and held a white scarf. As soon as the music started, they moved out and formed separate pairs. At first, the couples danced with a scarf at a slow pace, then the pace increased and the dance became more energetic.
Irish dancing was accompanied by music played on bagpipes and harps. In the households of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy, masters often teamed up with servants to perform certain dances. They danced even in the morning after waking up or during funeral processions, following in a circle to the sad sounds of bagpipes. In the eighteenth century, dance teachers appeared in Ireland. Mainly, these were traveling people, they moved from village to village and taught the local residents basic dance steps. The teachers were colorful characters, dressed in colorful clothes, and often had assistants. Many students could not, due to illiteracy, determine where their left or right foot was. To do this, the dance teacher tied straw to one leg and hay to the other leg and taught: “raise the leg with the hay” or “raise the leg with the straw.” Mostly, each teacher had his own area, and he did not encroach on other people’s “dance” domains. The level of performance of the most gifted students was very high, and solo dancers were held in high esteem. Often the doors were taken off their hinges, laid on the ground, and a dancer performed a dance on them. Fairs were held open competitions dances in which the competition continued until one of the dancers fell from fatigue. Several versions of these dances are still performed in different areas of Ireland. The rich heritage in the form of dance forms is carefully preserved and today Irish jig, reel, hornpipe, sets, polkas, and step dances are known throughout the world. Solo dancing and step dancing appeared at the end of the eighteenth century.
Irish dance costumes
The costumes of dancers today are just a reminder of ancient dance costumes. Men in the past usually wore a high-buttoned waistcoat, tie, breeches, stockings and shoes. Ladies wore colored homespun ankle-length skirts and black bodices.
Each school today is distinguished by its original costumes. Most of the dresses are decorated with embroidery in the Celtic style, copies of the famous Tara brooch, which pins the cape thrown over the shoulder onto the back.
Men's clothes are less decorated, but they rich history. Often this is a plain-colored kilt, a jacket with a complexly draped cloak on the shoulder. Footwear – for both men and women – heavy, hard boots with heels for hornpipe, jig, for reel – soft “ballet” shoes.
Irish dancing today
These days, Irish Dance is a cultural symbol of the country and it is clear that there are many dance organizations in Ireland that encourage the practice of dance. Adults and children participate in separate competitions called “feis” (feis, which was once the name for rural dance parties) for valuable prizes. There are solo performances and group competition performances, in which dancers are identified by age groups, from six years to seventeen years, and senior groups. Qualifying competitions are held in all four provinces of Ireland, with the winners then competing in the All-Ireland Championships. The World Irish Dancing Championships take place in Dublin at Easter, and representatives from England, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand compete for the title of world champion.
Kaylee
The history of the Irish "ceighley" begins with neighbors gathering for a pleasant time, with music, dancing and friendly conversations. Dance evenings were usually held on summer Sunday evenings, when young people gathered at crossroads. The music was performed by a violinist sitting on a three-legged stool with his hat upside down to collect donations. The violinist usually started with music for the reel, but had to repeat the melody several times before the young people began to dance. But after a while the area filled up, and then the dancer could not stop.
In Ireland today there are many opportunities to enjoy Irish dancing. Informal dance evenings, ceilidh sessions, when beginners are shown their first steps, are held in large cities in the summer season, in which people take part with equal pleasure. older generation and youth. Thanks to the professional dance show Riverdance, the amazing Michael Ryan Flatley and his stunning shows “Lord of the Dance” and “Dance Feet of Flames”, today Irish dance is not only known all over the world. Students continue to come to dance schools to achieve the same recognition in the future as Jean Butler, Colin Dunne or Michael Flatley.
INTRODUCTION
Dance originated with the first people and has relentlessly followed humanity, helping to overcome fears, express one’s thoughts and share these thoughts with others.
The first dances were primarily ritual and, in modern terms, therapeutic in nature. And since, depending on the living conditions of a particular people, the nature of the dangers and the style of life changed, then the dances different groups were significantly different from each other.
With the development of the national characteristics of a particular people, with the formation of character and temperament, folk dances were formed. It is thanks to the differences between representatives of different ethnic groups, the characteristics of a particular nation that we can enjoy such different folk dances.
Folk dance is the history of a people, its identity, the personification of its soul.
Dances of the peoples of the world are a kind of journey not only around the planet, but also in time. But at the same time, it is an endless source of inspiration for choreographers and choreographers, and for the dancers themselves. After all, in every national dance we can find elements that allow us to enrich the dance composition.
Folk dances formed the basis ballroom dancing, the basis of modern dances and even the basis of some martial arts.
The national dance of each country is beautiful in its own way, but some folk dances have occupied a special place. This applies to Latin American dances, the fiery rhythms of which are present in almost all modern club dances or Irish dances, which gather huge halls, and the famous Michael Flatley is one of the highest paid dancers in the world. So what is the phenomenal popularity of the shows Lord Of The Dance, Rhythm of the Dance, Riverdance? You can answer this question by going back several centuries and finding yourself in ancient Ireland.
MAIN PART
History of Irish dancing
The first mention of Irish dancing dates back to the 11th century. We are talking about traditional dance festivities called feis. But only in the 16th century did a detailed description of Irish dance appear.
All ancient Irish dances were characterized by a fast tempo and extended steps. Irish dancing was heavily influenced by French and Scottish dancing. And perhaps the dance culture of Ireland repeated the sad fate of many national dances and over time they would become just a ghost of a bygone time. But the English metropolis helped preserve the original Irish dance.
The colonialists fought so hard against the manifestation of everything “folk” and in the middle of the 17th century England introduced “Punitive Laws” that prohibited teaching the Irish anything, including dancing. In addition, the Catholic Church recognized Irish dancing as demonic and imposed a strict ban on it. In fact, Irish dances are one of the few that have been officially banned. At one time, the waltz, Cuban mamba, and Argentine tango were condemned, but these dances were not officially banned. Although the bans added to their popularity. What can we say about Irish dancing, which immediately acquired a special appeal. More than one hundred and fifty years!!! Irish dancing was a coveted forbidden fruit, it was taught in secret, and the knowledge was passed on by traveling masters. Agree that it is quite logical that in such an atmosphere the popularity of dancing grew every day. After all, often what is prohibited becomes especially attractive.
At the end of the 18th century, the first dance schools began to appear. The masters who taught Irish dancing brought their own elements to the dance (jumps, hops, turns) and each school had its own style.
At the end of the 19th century, a process called the Gaelic Revival began. Its essence was the revival of traditional Irish culture and dancing was one of the most important areas of this process. To revive Irish dance culture, the Gaelic League created the Irish Dancing Commission at the beginning of the 20th century, which was involved in the formalization and description of Irish dances. As a result, dances that had strong foreign roots, such as set dances, were ignored. The League adopted the southern (“Munster”) dance school as its basis.
Types and varieties of Irish dances
As mentioned above, the Irish Dance Commission strictly ensures that the dance is as close as possible to its historical roots. Accordingly, all types of Irish dances are performed to traditional Irish dance tunes. These are reels, jigs and hornpipes.
Irish Stepdance
A distinctive feature of Irish solo dancing is fast and clear movements of the legs while the body and arms remain motionless. Fixed hands are due, according to one version, to the persecution of the church, which claimed that the movement of the dancers' hands was part of a satanic rite. There is a more prosaic version, according to which the dancers previously had too little space to perform (an improvised stage was created from an ordinary door). Irish solo dances were developed by Irish dance masters in the 18th and 19th centuries and were strictly standardized by the Irish Dance Commission. It is on this technique that the entertainment value of the Riverdance show is based.
Irish ceilí
These are both partner and group dances based on standard Irish solo dance steps. Kayley's are a selection of dances with different formations.
Circle: Dancers in pairs join hands to form a circle.
Line: dancers line up in two lines, girls opposite young people. There are different restrictions on the number of pairs in different dances: any even number, no more than 5 pairs, etc.
Set: Two to eight pairs equally spaced to form a triangle, square or polygon.
Street, or column: for a set of two couples, the next set is built back to back, the next one for them, and so on, depending on the number of people willing to dance and the free space. The street can also be built from threes of dancers (two partners with one partner) and fours (two couples next to each other).
The dance is characterized by complex formations within its set. In line and street dances, after the end of the plot, the partners find themselves in other places and start the dance again with other counter-partners. Dances in a set usually have a complex dance structure with an introduction, an ending, a “body” - the body of the dance that is repeated several times, and figures that are danced between the body and are not repeated.
Set Dancing - paired Irish social dances. Unlike ceili, they are based on the relatively simple steps of French quadrilles.
Shan-nos (sean-nós) is a special style of performing traditional Irish songs and dances, not affected by the activities of dance masters and the Gaelic League, preserved in the Connemara region.
Choreographed Figure Dances
These dances are based on the standard Irish solo dances and ceilidh figures. But this is, first of all, a spectacular type of dancing. There are many dancers involved here. Since this is, first of all, a show, when staging numbers, various deviations from the standards are allowed to increase entertainment. Most famous Irish dance shows are choreographed figure dances.
Each type of dance is performed to a traditional melody, which has its own time signature. The main types are jig, reel, chronpipe.
The jig is an old tune of Celtic origin. Depending on the musical size of the melody in which the dance is performed, there are light (double) jigs, slip jigs, single jigs and treble jigs. The usual time signature for these types of jigs is 6/8.
The slip jig stands out completely, performed in a special size 9/8 and exclusively in soft shoes. It is the slip jig that is used as the basis for the Riverdance show.
The jig single is currently performed as a light dance (without beats or sound) in 6/8 and on rare occasions in 12/8.
The Double Jig can be danced both in light dance (in soft shoes) and in hard shoes with tapping rhythm. If danced in hard shoes, it is sometimes referred to as The Treble Jig, or The Heavy Jig, or The Double Jig, which are danced in 6/8.
The Heavy Jig is the only one that is danced exclusively in hard shoes, so that the dancer can especially emphasize the dance with sound and rhythm.
Rhyl originated in the second half of the 18th century in Scotland. The usual musical time signature is 4/4. Ril are danced in soft shoes (easy-ril) and hard ones (treble-ril). Men's "soft" reel is performed in special boots with heels, but without heels on the toes. Often part of shows, but rarely performed in traditional competitions.
The hornpipe originates from Elizabethan England, where it was performed as a stage performance. In Ireland it is danced quite differently and has been performed to 2/4 or 4/4 music with hard shoes since the mid-eighteenth century.
Clothes and shoes for Irish dancing
Irish dance shoes are divided into two types:
soft shoes
hard shoes.
Soft shoes (ghillies or pumps) are light leather slippers without heels and heels, with long laces. Slippers are usually the same for both feet. Typically black leather is used for these shoes, but you can also find a colored pair for show performances.
Men's soft shoes - leather shoes with soft soles and a small heel, allowing dancers to click even when dancing in soft shoes. Hard shoes are more specific: shoes, usually black, with a small heel with a heel on the toe, which causes the nose to rise and become slightly convex. For better fastening on the leg, in addition to the laces, they have a leather strap. Various plastics are used to produce heels and heels.
A woman's costume for Irish step dance is often represented by a short dress with a fairly wide skirt, since in this type of dance the main attention is paid to the movements of the legs, which in some dance steps need to be made in a fairly wide and fast movement. The dress is bright, often multi-colored, and decorated with Celtic patterns. The women's suit is also complemented by white knee socks, just below the knee.
A men's costume for Irish step dance consists of narrow pants and a shirt, often with wide sleeves.
Irish Dancing: The Rise
Irish dancing would have remained popular only on a national scale. But 1994 changed everything. It was in April of this year at the Eurovision music show, which took place in Ireland, that the world saw the dance show Riverdance, in which Irish dancing champions Jean Butler and Michael Flatley participated. The show shocked viewers so much that several more projects soon appeared. Among them, the shows that stand out are:
Lord of the Dance
Lord of the Dance (“Lord of the Dance”, also “Lord of the Dance”, “King of the Dance”) is an Irish dance show staged by choreographer Michael Flatley in 1996. The soundtrack was composed by Ronan Hardiman.
The story-based show, based on Celtic folk music and Irish folk dancing, has gained wide popularity. The troupe has toured Europe and the USA several times.
Feet of Flames
Feet of Flames is an Irish dance show choreographed by Michael Flatley. The music is composed by Ronan Hardiman. The Feet Of Flames show is a reworked, more modern version of Lord of the Dance. Although the plot of the show remains the same, the dance choreography has changed, musical compositions were rearranged, the costumes and composition of the participants changed.
Celtic Tiger
Celtic Tiger is an Irish dance show directed by Michael Flatley, who also plays one of the main roles. Celtic Tiger combines Irish dancing with ballet, flamenco, hip-hop and salsa. The show's music was composed by Ronan Hardiman.
Dancing on Dangerous Ground d
Dancing on Dangerous Ground is an Irish dance show created by Jean Butler and Colin Dunn. It was presented in London at the Theater Royal Drury Lane in 1999. The show's American premiere took place in New York at Radio City Music Hall in 2000.
Riverdance
The dance show Riverdance was first presented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994. This performance featured Irish dancing champions Jean Butler and Michael Flatley and the Celtic choir Anúna; the music was composed by composer Bill Whelan. Flatley himself was the choreographer of his part, Jean Butler choreographed the dances for herself and the rest of the troupe. Riverdance the Show. Riverdance was produced and directed by married couple John McColgan and Moya Doherty. Riverdance still performs around the world, albeit in a reduced format and in smaller venues.
Irish dance stars
Jean Butler is a professional Irish dancer. Born March 14 in Mineola, New York. She graduated from the University of Birmingham with an honors degree in Theater and Drama. Received the Irish Post Award for "outstanding achievement in Irish dancing" in April 1999. Jean's mother began teaching her Irish dancing when she was 4 years old. The famous teacher Donny Golden was invited. Jean also studied classical ballet and American step dance, but the main emphasis was on Irish step. Thanks to her talent, Jean won regional and national tournaments, ranked good places at world competitions. Jean performed with the bands Green Fields of America and Cherish the Ladies; when she was 17, she made her Carnegie Hall debut at a concert by The Chieftains. In 1994, at the invitation of producer Moya Docherty, Jean took part in a seven-minute break at the Eurovision Song Contest in a number called Riverdance.
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an Irish-American dancer, choreographer, musician and producer, known for producing the dance shows Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames. Twice he became a Guinness Book record holder as the fastest tap dancer in the world (28 beats per second in 1989, 35 beats per second in 1998). Michael was born on July 16, 1958 in Detroit and grew up in Chicago, USA. He started dancing at the age of eleven, and at the age of seventeen he won the Irish national competition dance. At the same time, he successfully practiced boxing for some time. In 1975 he won the Chicago Golden Gloves championship. He also played the Irish transverse flute. Recorded a solo album. Since 1980, he was a member of an Irish folk group, where he played the flute. In 1978-79, he toured as a dancer with the group Green Fields of America. In 1994, Flatley became one of the main performers and choreographers of the dance show Riverdance. As an independent choreographer, Flatley founded Unicorn Entertainments Ltd and staged his own show, Lord of the Dance, in 1996.
CONCLUSION
As we can see, Irish dancing is a living example of the fact that folk dance can be extremely popular both among the people themselves and outside the borders of one country. Moreover, it is not necessary to radically change the style to suit modern trends. Irish dance, performed to traditional music, has not changed for centuries and at the same time lives in a rhythm with its people. Lively and dynamic, bright and imaginative Irish dance wins the hearts of not only spectators, but also professional dancers. And the proof of this is the large competitions and championships that will take place all over the world and their youngest participants are less than 8 years old.
Traditional Irish dances are a constant source of inspiration for dancers, choreographers, choreographers, and teachers. And what is especially interesting is that the choreography of Irish dance is simple and incredibly complex at the same time, and the picture of the dance fascinates and holds the viewer’s attention for two hours.
Ireland is famous for its incomparably rich dance culture. Worldwide interest in Irish dancing over the past 10-20 years has been driven by the emergence of spectacular Irish shows.
"Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance" are widely known in Russia. How can we explain the appeal of Irish dance?
History of Irish dance
Perhaps the history of traditional Irish dance should be calculated from the time of the emergence of the Celtic peoples - the Gauls), who founded their own state already in the 5th century BC. These peoples were distributed throughout Western Europe, and by the third century AD the Gauls reached Ireland.
The oldest known form associated with Irish dance is the Sean-Nos of the Celts, who lived in the British Isles from 2000 BC. In the twelfth century, under the influence of the culture of the Norman conquerors, a round dance began in Ireland around a person singing a song. In the 16th century, dances began to be performed in palaces.
And two centuries later in Ireland appeared traveling dance teachers- the founders of two popular types today: group and solo. In the fifth century, Saint Patrick declared the lands of Ireland Christian. Due to the oppression of Irish culture that began in the 18th century, national dances were for a long time performed only under the veil of strict secrecy. Folk dancing was sharply condemned by the Christian church as “crazy” and “bringing misfortune.” Some historians even believe that the characteristic motionless position of the hands on the belt appeared in Irish dance just after The church declared hand movements in Irish dancing obscene.
As England conquered the surrounding lands, the neighboring peoples were subjected to severe pressure: it is known that in order to destroy a nation, it is first necessary destroy her crops u. During the course of English colonization, persecution of all manifestations of Irish culture intensified. Punitive laws that were introduced by the British in the mid-17th century prohibited the teaching of the Irish in anything, including music and dance.
Therefore, for more than a century and a half Irish dancing was learned in secret. Dance culture existed in the form of secret classes held in villages by itinerant dance teachers and in large village parties where people danced in groups, often under the direction of the same masters. The emergence of dance masters - traveling teachers - at the beginning of the 18th century marked the beginning of the modern dance school. It was considered a great honor to host a dance teacher. The dance master was usually hired for a month.
At the beginning of the 19th century, it also became popular in Irish villages and small towns. competitions. A large pie was placed in the center of the dance floor and served as a prize for the best dancer. The solo dance style is called Sean-nos. Solo dances were performed by masters. In mass group dances, French quadrilles and cotillions were reinterpreted in an Irish way.
Modern period in Irish dancing begins at the end of the 19th century in connection with the creation of the Gaelic League. She set herself the goal of preserving and developing the Irish language and culture, music and dance. Their painstaking work often came down not only to preserving and enriching existing traditions, but also to artificially unifying them within the framework of a new, often controversial, but common set of rules. However, this sporting approach was very convenient for increasing entertainment and for holding competitions.
Founded in 1929 Irish Dance Commission to establish uniform rules for dance performance, competitions and judging. As a result, dance technique has changed significantly. Dance schools were given the opportunity to use large halls and a wide stage. Dancers no longer limited themselves in space and movement, and this enriched Irish dancing with many new steps and jumps, including passages across the entire stage. The rule of keeping your arms strictly along your body has finally become firmly established. But some other provisions still exist. Since the 20s-30s. Thanks to the Gaelic League, women began to participate in competitions and teach in dance schools much more often. A clearly defined sequence of steps performed became the basis for group set dances and the ceilidh dances that evolved from them during the creation of the Gaelic League, which developed from elements of step dances and French square dances.
Varieties of Irish dances
Three main types of Irish dance: solo, ceili and set. Solo dance mainly acts as a spectacle prepared by masters, or as a competitive form. It requires professionalism and many years of experience. Keighley, a credit to the Gaelic League, is a group of Irish folk dances - long line dances and circle dances, and artificial dances. The keili is characterized by jumping and arms tightly pressed to the body - “arms at your sides.”
Set dances appeared a little later after Irish soldiers returning from Napoleonic wars brought with them the quadrille - four couples facing each other, forming a square. A square dance with an increased tempo and proper Irish movements became known as the set. Sets consist of figures - movements performed in a certain sequence. The number of figures can be different - from two to six, and each with its own size - jig (6/8), reel (4/4) or hornpipe (4/4). There are no jumps typical for step dances in the set, but due to the many varieties of steps, the dance looks very diverse.
Irish dancing was originally performed only by men. When appeared step, women were not trusted with him either. Now everything is mixed up. But, nevertheless, the competitions of young dancers aged twenty years and older are recognized as the most spectacular at the championships - it is their performances that attract full houses. Despite the dancers' adherence to the traditions of Irish dance art, in recent years, ballet finger technique has gained popularity: they walk in hard shoes, standing on their toes, which is contraindicated for children under twelve years of age.
Irish dancing today continue to conquer the world. Dance schools, whose program includes national Irish dances, attract many students not only in Ireland itself, but also in many other countries. There are four major competitions held regularly around the world - the American National Championships, the All-Ireland Championships, the British Championships and the World Championships. According to tradition, the World Championships are held in Ireland, and thousands of dancers arrive, for whom a decent result at the championship can be the beginning of a stellar career. For example, in 1998 the World Championships, held in Ennis, attracted three thousand participants and another seven thousand coaches, teachers and fans. Interestingly, a dancer of any level can take part in the championship, be it a beginner amateur or a high-class professional.
Studio Divadance, St. Petersburg.
Designers: Zhuzha
© 2005 by Zhuzha
