Traditional Irish Dances

Soft shoes Hard shoes

Reel Treble Reel
Light Jig Heavy Jig
Slip Jig Hornpipe
Single Jig Set dances (St. Patrick’s Day, Blackbird…)

Typical dance structure

Different

1 x right leg
1 x left leg

3. First step
1. Lead around 2. Side step

So far, we learned: Later we will learn:

- reel (lead around & side step) - reel (first step)
- show dance - light jig (all 3 parts)

Steps to learn/train:

Jump Hop Cut

Reel
Lead around 8 jumps in circle

Side step
right: hop 1—2—3, two jumps
left: jump 1—2—3, two jumps (finish with left leg in front)

First step
(l)point and back, (r)hop-2-3
hop 1—2—3, point-point-point and back, hop-2-3 and jump (finish right in front)
Repeat with left (mirrored steps)

Light Jig
Lead around
(r)hop-back-1—2—3, (l)hop-back-1, (r)hop-hop-back (l)hop-back-234
Repeat with left (mirrored steps) to complete circle

Side step
(r)hop-hop-back, (l)hop-hop-back, (r)hop 1—2—3
cut-step kick-back (r)hop-back-234 (r)hop-hop-back (l)hop-back-234
Repeat with left (mirrored steps) going to the left

First step
3 × (cut-step kick-back hop-back-234) in a right diagonal line
(r)hop-hop-back (l)hop-back-234
Repeat with left leg (mirrored steps) in a left diagonal line
Note: in this light jig, often the starting leg is your back leg!

Show dance
march (1-2-3-4)
position (5-6), hands (7-8)
side step together