DANCE
Jig is one of the main dances and is performed in Heavy shoes. A full jig lasts 48 bars (3 steps), except in Australia, where it is 40 bars (2 ½ steps). The dance, as with all the Heavies, focusses on the rhythm, so there are many trebles, heels (or rolls), and digs. Kicks and skips are also incorporated, for movement. Slip Jigs are only danced by girls as they are considered feminine, graceful and ethereal. They seem slower and more 'floaty' than the Reel, with more graceful jumps and leaps, skips, pauses, and footwork. However, recently a more athletic slip jig seems to be gaining popularity. The slip sig is the other main light dance and a full dance lasts 40 bars, which is 2 ½ steps. They are in 9/8 tiring, which is unique to Irish dance and music. The Hornpipe is a heavy dance. The music & dance reached Ireland in around 1760, but the dance has also been popular in England, Scotland and Wales, as a solo dance with intricate footwork, probably danced in clogs. One type of Honpipe became a stage dance associated with Sailors. Hornpipes are 40 bars (2 ½ steps) long. The steps used are much the same as in Heavy Jigs, but they form a different rhythm pattern, which many dancers find more difficult than the jig rhythm. Set dances are important for dancers in Championships, as you must dance one if you are recalled. A set dance is slightly different to the other dances as it has a step and a set (see Structure and Choreography of the dances for more detail). They are performed in heavy shoes, so again, trebles, heels (rolls), skis and kicks are used. The set dance will either be in jig or hornpipe timing, so the rhythm will be one or the other. The Traditional Set dances are danced the same way everywhere (except for some slight variations). They originated in the 19th century, when they were developed by the Dance masters. There are several dances that An Coimisiun allows dancers to perform in Traditional Set dance competitions, including St. Patrick's Day and the Blackbird, although many other set dances also have a traditional version. Non-traditional or Open set dances are newer. They are choreographed by teachers or, in some cases, the students themselves. They vary greatly from school to school, and do not have fixed steps. The Open Set dances are usually used for recalls, although in some younger age-groups a traditional set may be requested instead. You usually need to be in the higher levels of competition before you learn an Open Set dance.
