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| Celtic Radio Community > Irish Dance > Ooo New Forum |
| Posted by: Lyra Luminara 19-Dec-2004, 05:27 PM |
| When I return there is an Irish dancing forum, and coincidentally in my absence I have taken up Irish dance. Last sunday I actually preformed for the first time, that was pretty crazy. I have yet to purchase my own shoes though since they're expensive. But anyway, does anyone else dance--hard or soft shoe? I've only done hard shoe so far...and find it so invigorating and fun and it's just a rush to dance in such a complex and beautiful manor to the sounds of Ireland. |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 19-Dec-2004, 06:46 PM |
| This is my 3rd year dancing. I do both hard shoe and soft shoe. I've competed in 2 Feis's so far, and have done well at both. You're right though...it is a rush! |
| Posted by: Ceciliastar1 21-Dec-2004, 02:52 PM |
| I've taken a few lessons here and there. I've never owned my own shoes or anything but I would love to. I totally want to dance more. I miss it s ton. Maybe I'll pick it up again. I have a few friends who might teach me cause I can't afford real classes, plus there are no irish dance schools where I am living. Cool new forum! |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 21-Dec-2004, 03:39 PM |
Dance schools are few and far between...that's for sure! There's one in Maryland, but I don't like the guy in charge of it. I travel down to Falls Church, Virginia for classes, which is about 85 miles away. She's a well established and awesome teacher though, and well worth the trip. I even take my boys down to her Saturday mornings for their class.  http://www.oneilljamesschool.com/ |
| Posted by: gwenlee 21-Dec-2004, 05:23 PM |
| I don't do Irish Step Dancing, but I do Scottish Country Dancing and when I was looking for classes I typed in the city where I live and found that there were several places in our area that offered discounted Irish Step Dancing classes at local churches and community centers. If you can't find Irish Step Dancing classes perhaps you might try Scottish Country Dancing. We do reels and gigs too. Depending on the place the cost is very little we pay 2 dollars a class. We have a lot of fun we have monthly socials and do demos at community events and Highland games. People of all ages and levels participate. I hope you find a dance style and class to your liking. |
| Posted by: catlynelizabeth 28-Dec-2004, 03:21 PM |
| I've been dancing for around four years now and my school that i dance with is none competitive. I only heard about the classes from a friend who is one of the teachers. We hold classes, now three times a week and the charge is like 7 dollars a day and you can dance for like 2 hours a night. I love it, my teacher is great and we are very family oriented so its nice because my mom and i dance together. Sometimes you just have to keep you ears and eyes open and a small school will pop up out of now where. http://www.irishdanceforfun.com |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 04-Jan-2005, 10:27 AM |
I am a dancing voyeur!  I have 2 left fett, but I LOVE to watch! Riverdance still gives me cold chills every time I watch it! I sit hypnotized and captivated! |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 06-Jan-2005, 04:35 AM |
| Yes, Riverdance will hypnotize you and captivate you. However, if you want to be truly entertained and amazed, then try watching Lord of the Dance: Feet of Flames on video. Michael Flatley is a true entertainer. |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 06-Jan-2005, 08:37 PM |
| I have The Lord of the Dance, but what is Feet of Flames? Is that different? |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 06-Jan-2005, 11:03 PM |
| It's basically the same show, but it was performed in an outdoor theater in England on a HUGE stage. The original video was the first performance of Lord of the Dance in Dublin. Feet of Flames has some more dances in it and the lighting and visuals are a lot better, since they had time to perfect it. I just like that one better. I have the original video, but I don't even watch it anymore. |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 07-Jan-2005, 07:46 PM |
| WOW! Sounds really good! I'll have to check into it! BTW, LOVE the new avatar! VERY pretty! Your coat of arms, I assume? |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 07-Jan-2005, 11:35 PM |
Yeah...Mac is trying to get together some Irish Coat of Arms for avatars, and he used one I had uploaded to use as an example and make it prettier. This one is his first try at it, and it's awesome isn't it?  |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 07-Jan-2005, 11:48 PM |
| YES! He did a great job on it! |
| Posted by: VetteGal 08-Jan-2005, 02:23 AM |
WOW! That looks great! Too bad I'm not Irish to have a coat of arms.  |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 08-Jan-2005, 02:15 PM |
Well, that's ok...apparently Irish families don't have Coat of arms. At least that's according to a thread called Irish Clans, under the Celtic Nations forum. I think the only reason my family has one could be because they were originally Nomans that came to Ireland in the 1100's. Who knows? All I know is I have one!   |
| Posted by: dragonboy3611 08-Jan-2005, 07:02 PM | ||
What is the different between hard shoe and soft shoe? The actual shoe or the dance style!? |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 08-Jan-2005, 07:49 PM |
| dragonboy, I'm not a dancer and I don't know much about it, but I would say that the main difference between hard and soft shoe is the sound. Have you ever watched Riverdance? When they are dancing hard shoe, the shoes have a very percussive quality, sort of like tap dancing. Soft shoe on the other hand is silent. The shoes look almost like ballet slippers. But as I said I could be wrong... |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 09-Jan-2005, 09:56 PM |
| Hey dragonboy...the shoes and the style of dancing is different. Go to www.rutherfordshoes.com and you'll see both styles of shoes. Under "Jig Shoes" you see what we're referring to as hard shoes. Under "Girls Reel Shoes" you'll see what we're calling soft shoes. |
| Posted by: catlynelizabeth 10-Jan-2005, 08:45 AM |
| There are also some things you can do in one type of shoes and not in the other. The steps are also different between the two shoe types. For example hard shoes is very low to the ground and soft shoe can be high flying, with lots of whips, and kicks, and leaps. |
| Posted by: ceiligirl 02-Feb-2005, 10:27 AM |
| I love to dance as well. Three of of my kids dance trad Irish dance, both hard shoes and soft. There are actually differences between dances and what shoes you wear. Soft shoes are for dances such as reels, 4/4 time, lt jig, single jig, 6/8 time as well and then there is slip jig, 9/8 time. Those are all done with soft shoes called ghillies. Then there is hard shoe dances such as,set dances, ie St Patricks Day, The Blue Eyed Rascal, where everyone dances the same steps, treble reels, treble jig, and hornpipes. We take with Rince Na h Eireann out of Charlotte NC and we also compete through them. The Girls absolutely love it with all the fancy dresses and all and My sone got hooked when he saw my oldest get her 1st participation medal. That was all it took!! Our school website is http://www.rincenaheireann.com Another site to check out is the NAFC. This is the org for traditional irish dance teachers in NA who are certified for students to compete ( and not compete as well) and works along side An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha http://www.northamericanfeiscommission.org/ Lots of luck to all dancers and aspiring dancers of all ages |
| Posted by: MaggieCarroll 11-Aug-2006, 07:46 PM |
| I took step lessons for several years Along with my two daughters, Brigid and Terra We had a great teacher, a lass named Una from Belfast I learned alongside the wee ones Which can be frustratin' for they pick it up Much more easily than adults... Just can't help but dance When I hear Irish music...  My girls rebelled and quit After they discovered boys Unfortunately t'was also After the $500 Irish dance dresses Which now sit in their closet Me, bein' too old for the dresses Is the only one who still dances I dance all my steps almost every mornin' My 7's and 3's, my hard jig, My reels, my light jigs, etc. Have done a bit of Ceili as well But I can only remember all the parts As long as I am dancin' them... The Seige of Ennis feels like one Until you get into the pattern O but I love it... Like the pipes...stirs the clan blood I have both hard and soft shoes Trained in both But funny, peasant I am I perfer to dance in bare feet (As long as the floor is not too splintery... Or the gravel too hot ) |