Irish Dance for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Irish dance is, by right, a separate art form, as magical and mysterious as the culture of distant Ireland itself. This style has a special distinguishing feature: movements are performed only with the feet, which dancers use to beat fast and clear rhythms.

A performance, especially a group one, becomes so spectacular, polished, and joyful that viewers simply cannot take their eyes off the masterful manipulations of the performers! Undoubtedly, it takes a lot of time and effort to practice the complex footwork and synchronicity, but the result is worth it. Irish dance has preserved the spirit, strength, and amazing energy of ancient culture to our time.

Special shoes

As mentioned above, Irish dance is entirely built on beating rhythm with the feet. Therefore, if you decide to dedicate your time to this style, first of all, you need to purchase specialized shoes. Many think this is not necessary for training, but that is a mistaken belief.

To master complex footwork, you must learn to tap out the required rhythm – this is the foundation of skill in any Irish dance.

In addition to such shoes, it is also recommended to buy soft-soled lace-up shoes for Irish dance, as this type is also needed for many styles and exercises.

Don't forget warm-up and posture

You probably think that since you only work with your legs, a warm-up before training is unnecessary. This is far from the truth! The ankle joint is very mobile; if you don't warm it up before performing elements, the risk of dislocation or strain increases.

Your calves should also be stretched because unprepared muscles can react negatively to jumps and a sudden increase in activity level. If you are new to dance and have no experience, take warm-up exercises seriously and learn to feel your body's capabilities.

Moreover, in Irish dance, maintaining correct posture is crucial: the back must be straight, shoulders back. This is how your movements will look most impressive and match the mood of the dance.

How to quickly learn combinations?

When you start learning standard choreographic movements in Irish dance, try to spend a lot of time on each element. The fact is that this style is based on polished movements performed on autopilot: improvisation certainly won't help here.

You should memorize a set of fundamental combinations necessary for performing Irish dance, and then move on to various additions and professional manipulations. Remember that patience and perseverance play a huge role in this dance style.

If you train regularly with pleasure and full dedication, your workouts will definitely yield visible results!