A timeline following the evolution of Irish dance
Created by uncgdcl on Aug 13, 2008
Last updated: 03/11/10 at 08:43 PM
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Ceili dances evolved from set dances, eventually ousting them from the vogue, and were more freeform than their predecessors. These dances were generally performed at a social gathering, known as a ceili, from which these dances take their names. Watch a video on Ceili dancers IMAGE REFERENCE: Ceili Dancers
The hornpipe originated in southern England and was brought back to Ireland by traveling dancers. It is stylistically similar to the reel, save that there is more full body movement, and is most different when it comes to the music, which is written in 4/4 time. The most widely known hornpipe is the Sailor’s Hornpipe. Watch a video of Hornpipe dancers IMAGE REFERENCE: Hornpipe
The reel originated in Scotland, being one of the principal folk dances of that particular culture. Popularized in the 1990s by the Riverdance theatrical show, it was brought back to Ireland by traveling dancers and made into what it is today. The Irish reel is distinguished by the rhythm of the music rather than the form, which is what defines it in Scottish culture, where it is a type of set dance. Watch a video of Reel dancers IMAGE REFERENCE: Reel
The spread and variation of English, Irish, and Scottish dances can be attributed to the rise of wandering teachers known as dance masters. Going from village to village, the dance master would teach the peasantry how to dance. Click here to watch a video of Irish Dance. IMAGE REFERENCE: Dance Masters
An example of the Irish taking something from their conquerors and making it their own is the set dance. The set dance was drawn from an old courtly dance known as the quadrille, where four couples would perform a carefully choreographed dance in a square formation. The set was danced to a specific piece of music, with both the dance and the music being much the same throughout time. Though set dances fell out of popularity in the mid-twentieth century, there is resurgence in their use, with many old dances being recovered. Watch a video of set dancing IMAGE REFERENCE: Set Dances
The jig is an early Irish dance performed to rather fast-paced music. There are several different types of jigs, including the single, treble, and slip jigs, each of which has its own specific speed and equipment. For example, the light jig, the fastest, is danced with soft shoes called ghillies that resemble ballet shoes. The dance itself originated in Ireland, but the name derives from either the French giguer, the verb “to dance,” or the Italian giga, a type of music that was quite popular at the time. Watch a video of Jig dancing IMAGE REFERENCE: jig
Ireland’s relative isolation allowed its culture to flourish, but with the Anglo-Norman conquest of 1170, foreign influences began to erode the country’s cultural heritage over the generations. However, as is always the case with cultural interactions, this was not a one-way street; the conquerors themselves began to adopt aspects of Irish culture, including language, dance, and customs. In order to combat the assimilation of the two cultures, the English Parliament issued a series of laws known as the Statutes of Kilkenny in 1366. These laws forbade the intermarriage of English and native Irish people and the raising of Irish children by English parents. They also required the English to take up traditional English modes of dress and recreation, as well as to learn English if they did not know it. With the rising of English culture in Ireland, the conquering English began to suppress the native Irish, coming down harder on their ways, including dance. Despite this persecution, Irish traditions continued. IMAGE REFERENCE: Kilkenny Castle
In ancient Ireland, a Feis was a social gathering of great importance. It consisted largely of the trading of tales, singing of songs, and various competitions including dancing, racing, and other feats of strength. Today, Feisianna is beginning to come back into play, and focus more on the culture of Ireland and Scotland, particularly language and traditions, and competitions are more about dance than they were in the past. IMAGE REFERENCE: Feis
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