Diochra.com: Discover Irish dance! Fionn rince Gaelach!

JumpStart Guide

Glossary of Irish Dance Terms

Community

Adjudicator
Judge
Damhsa
"Dow-sa". Irish Gaelic for "dance".
Féile
"Fay-lah". Typically, a dance competition that focuses only on dance, without that extra competitions that a feis may have. Also see CRN’s definition.
Feis
"Fesh". Typically, a competition that does not only focus on dance; popular extra competitions include music, art, writing, and sodabread. Pl. Feiseanna, "fesh-ahna".
Irish tap
Does not exist. This term is often mistakenly used to refer to Irish solo hardshoe dancing; it usually grates the nerves of Irish dancers. May also refer to studios offering Irish-flavored styles of tap dancing; these can be honest attempts, but most end up being tap teachers trying to capitalize on the popularity of Irish dancing by learning some steps and not much technique from videos.
Rince
"Rin-kuh". Irish Gaelic for "dance". Also damhsa.
Riverdancing
Often mistakenly used to refer to Irish dancing; usually grates the nerves of Irish dancers. I’ve often wondered just what "Riverdancing" is, seeing as how the show Riverdance also has tap, flamenco, ballet, and Russian folkloric dancing. However, most "Riverdancing" ends up looking like a silly combination of all of it!
Scrutineer
Individual who assists in the adjudication and scoring process of a competition

Music

Hornpipe
A tune in 2/4 or 4/4 time with a different "swing" to it than a reel.
Jig, Double¹
A tune in 6/8 time, often referred to simply as a "jig".
Jig, Single
A tune in 6/8 time, with a slightly different ending rhythm than a double jig.
Jig, Slip
A tune in 9/8 time.
Reel
A tune in 4/4 or 2/4 time, that’s not as "swinging" as a hornpipe. It has more of an active, linear feel.

Dancing

Céilí, céilídh
A social gathering or party, usually referring to an evening of group dancing, often set dancing.
Céilí dances
Group dances that have a traditional, standard choregraphy. They are danced essentially the same way all around the world, with minor differences depending upon organization or school preference.
Choreography
Group dances in the ceili style, but choreographed by one’s teacher.
Figure dance
See Choreography.
Hardshoe¹
A percussive form of solo dance. Also called "heavy shoe".
Hornpipe, Fast/Traditional
A beginning hardshoe dance to hornpipe music.
Hornpipe, Slow/Contemporary
An advanced hardshoe dance to slower hornpipe music; the music is played considerably slower than traditional speed.
Jig, Double²
A hardshoe dance to a slow double jig. Also heavy jig, treble jig.
Jig, Heavy
Definition
Jig, Hop
Definition
Jig, Light
A softshoe ("light shoe") dance to a lively double jig.
Jig, Single
Definition
Jig, Slip
Definition
Jig, Treble - Fast/Traditional
A beginning hardshoe dance to double jig music.
Jig, Treble - Slow/Contemporary
An advanced hardshoe dance to double jig music; the music is played considerably slower than traditional speed.
Lead-around
The beginning step of a dance that travels in a circle. It can last eight or sixteen bars, and is often followed by a sidestep.
Reel, Light
A lively, athletic softshoe dance to a reel.
Reel, Treble
A lively, show-stopping hardshoe dance to a reel at a speed slightly faster than a light reel.
Sean-nos step dancing
Definition
Set dance, Championship or Nontraditional
Much like the traditional set dances, though danced to music played considerably slower than traditional speed. Instead of dancing the same steps, however, contemporary solo set dances give choreographic license: one dancer’s "Lodge Road," for example, can be incredibly different from another's.
Set dance, Traditional
A fast or traditional-speed hardshoe dance to a specific tune, such as "Saint Patrick’s Day" or "Garden of Daisies". Set dances usually have an "odd" number of bars in the dances (as opposed to the 16-bar steps of regular dances). These are usually made of a "step" and a "set". For example, a set dance could have sixteen bars in the step, and twelve in the set. These dances have traditional steps that are choreographed to the music, which everyone dances nearly the same.
Set dancing
Group dancing that has somewhat standard dances, danced with shuffling steps and lots of spins. These are not regarded as traditionally Irish, the style having come originally from the European continent, but are quite popular just the same.
Side step
A dance step that moves from side to side. It can be eight or sixteen bars long, and typically follows a lead-around of the same length.
Softshoe¹
A style of solo dancing that concentrates on the lightness of a dancer - leaps, kicks, and light airy footwork abound. Ghillies are most often worn by girls, which make no sound. Boys can wear reel shoes, a jazz oxford-type shoe with hardshoe heels attached. These heels can be clicked to mark time during softshoe dances.
Solo dancing, step dancing
A style of Irish dancing which focuses on the individual dancer, concentrating on tricky footwork and other virtuoso choregraphy. It is further separated into softshoe and hardshoe dancing. Dancers may dance their solo steps alone, or side by side with other dancers.
Stepabout, step-about
A performance concept in which a group of dancers - whether alone or in smaller groups - take turns dancing their steps.
Jig, Heavy
Definition

Costuming

Beginners' costume
A simpler costumes, for girls usually a skirt and blouse, and for boys usually a dress shirt and dark pants.
Ghillies
Soft, ballet-like slippers cut low to show off the foot. All called light shoes, soft shoes, and pomps/pumps.
Hard shoe²
Leather shoes with hard tips and heels, worn for "hardshoe" dances (which make noise). Also called heavy shoes or jig shoes.
Kilt
A pleated garment worn by men. In Irish dancing, these are solid-colored.
Poodle socks
White socks worn while dancing; their name derives from the textured look of the sock leg. Also called "popcorn" or "bubble" socks.
School costume
A costume uniform worn by a particular school.
Soft shoe²
See "Ghillies".
Solo costume
A costume created for an invidual dancer. In North America it is common to have dancers earn their solo costumes by achieving a certain ability level, while in Ireland and Great Britain, dancers often can have solo costumes even when a beginner. Solo costumes can range from simpler, older costumes to the complex, stiff modern dresses.