Traditional Irish dance. Irish dancing: history of origin, what is it? Dynamic dance from Ireland name

Description

Irish dancing is a group that belongs to the traditional ones, which took place in Ireland in the 18th-20th centuries, they gained great popularity around the globe thanks to the show Riverdance, as well as other dance shows that followed it.

Irish dances are divided into the following types:

The dances are performed only by Irish traditional tunes: jigs, reels, hornpipes.

• Solo - Irish Stepdance - their distinctive feature is clear movement of the legs, the body and arms remain motionless. They were created by Irish masters in the 18th-20th centuries and are strictly standardized by the Irish Dance Commission. Standardization came in the early 20th century as a result of the Gaelic League, which allowed the creation of schools of masters who were capable of performing complex techniques. It is on the solo direction that the spectacle of Riverdance, as well as shows like it, is based;
• Keilí - céilí - group or pair exercises, the basis of which is based on the standard steps of the solo direction. Standardization of ceilidhs is also available;
• Staged figure dances - Choreographed Figure Dances - the base consists of solo performance and ceilidh figures, but the focus is on the performance of several performers at once, which is within the framework of a staged show. Deviations from the standards are allowed in order to increase entertainment. Riverdance was born thanks to this direction;
• Set Dancing - social pairs, the base is made up of simple steps of French quadrilles;
• Shan-nos - sean-nós - this style is special, it was not affected by the activities of the Gaelic League and the masters. This species is preserved in the Connemara region of Ireland.

Varieties, depending on rhythm and melody:

• Jig - jig - this melody has an ancient Celtic origin, the jig depends on the speed of the melody: slip jig, light (double) jig, single jig, treble jig. The time signature of the music is 6/8, only the slip jig has a 9/8 rhythm and is performed only in soft shoes.
• Reel - reel - its appearance dates back to approximately the second half of the 18th century, Scotland. The time signature of the music is 4/4, if the dance is performed only in soft shoes, then it is called light-reel, if in hard shoes, it is called trable-reel. In special boots, a “soft” men’s reel is usually performed; the boots have a heel, but there is no heel on the toe of the boot.
• Hornpipe - hornpipe - researchers suggest that it came from England during the reign of Elizabeth, where it was performed as a stage performance. In Ireland, the dance is performed differently, in 4/4 and 2/4 sizes, and requires hard shoes.

History of origin

The first mention dates back to the 9th century, mentioning the first festivities of peasants, who were called fesh, but the description, specifically Irish, appeared in the 16th century, it was very unclear. It is difficult to say from the references which of them could be attributed to the Irish, and which to those that arose under the influence of the Scottish and French. But one thing was the same for everyone - side steps and fast pace.

When Ireland was a colony, culture was constantly persecuted, with “punitive laws” prohibiting the teaching of dance and music to the Irish. For 150 years, the Irish studied secretly with the help of traveling masters, performed at rural parties, the leadership of which also belonged to the masters.

At the end of the 18th century, masters began to create their first schools, the most famous were in the province of Munster, in the counties of Limerick, Cork, and Kerry. Famous schools also existed in other cities. The masters came up with their own movements (jumps, jumps, turns). Schools differed in the range of movements used.

The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the “Gaelic Revival”, the Gaelic League, which later became a separate organization - the Irish Dancing Commission. It was she who began the study of traditional dances and their standardization, in order to then popularize them among the population. Those that carried foreign roots, for example, Set ones, were deliberately excluded. The basis was the “Munster” tradition; in technical terms it was the most pronounced. As a result, solo dances and group ceilidhs became standardized.

Since then, around the world there has been a system followed by schools teaching Irish dancing. There are competitions that constantly give growth to future masters.

Solos performed using other techniques are called “shan-nos”, which means “old way”. They have two directions: dances of the Connemara region and those that have been preserved among emigrants in North America.

See videos and photos of performances by famous groups on the website.

Probably the most common question that any Irish dance teacher hears, regardless of the direction, style and size of the school: “Will you teach how to dance a jig?” The easiest way is to answer “yes” and leave it up to the questioner to decide what kind of jig he had in mind, because it could be a dance from the show Lord Of The Dance, or a competitive discipline, or a traditional group dance for parties.

In general, there are now a great many schools, studios and Irish dance clubs in Russia. There are no less materials on the theory and history of these dances on the Internet. Articles about dance come in very, very different volumes, clarity and quality. Unfortunately, with all the wealth of choice, it is difficult to find a short overview text that will simply and clearly explain what is what in the modern world of Irish dancing. Some write that Irish dancing is “jiga, reel and hornpipe”, others write “solos, ceili and sets”. Both are true, but try to get the person who reads all this to tell the difference between a caylie and a hornpipe and you'll have a lot of fun watching his face. And what completely confuses the matter is the fact that often completely different types of dances have the same name.

This text does not pretend to be deep or detailed. It is written as an attempt to take an internal look at Irish dancing in all its varieties and aspects - as it now exists in Ireland and beyond - and to get a more or less complete picture.

So. Dancing, as you know, begins with music. Therefore, the first thing a novice dancer needs to know is what Irish melodies there are. The main ones are jig, reel, hornpipe and polka. Somewhere on the border of poles and jigs there are slides, and in addition, the jigs themselves have several varieties (single, double, slip jigs). Please note: this is a purely musical division. The same reel can be danced in soft or hard shoes, solo or in pairs, threes, fours, etc., in a tavern or on the big stage, in traditional or original choreography. But the reel will remain the reel. And if you ask the musicians to play a reel, you will get a melody in 4/4 time signature, but what you do to it is your personal choice. To a greater or lesser extent, the same is true for the other melodies.

In this way, the music brings together a variety of Irish dances. What differentiates them? It can be said very generally that the place of performance and the type of spectator inextricably linked with it, as well as the formal purpose of studying dance by the dancers themselves. To be a little more specific, we can highlight:

• dancing “for the tavern” (to dance yourself and enjoy the process),
• dancing "for competition" (to dance in front of other dancers and get judges' evaluation) and
• dancing “for the stage” (to perform in front of spectators unfamiliar with the topic and delight them).

And if we use modern terminology, it turns out:

• quadrille sets and shan-nos,
• keili and solo dances of the modern style, including solo sets (why completely different dances are called the same word, see below)
• original shows: the legendary Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, as well as their numerous clones and followers

All three groups include solo and group dances. It is customary to dance sets and shan-nos in conventionally “regular” shoes, but at competitions and on stage they use special soft shoes or hard shoes with heels.

It must immediately be said that in some ways all these varieties overlap. For example, formal competitions in “traditional” dances have recently become popular, but on the other hand, outside of Ireland, sports dances are regularly performed at concerts in clubs solely for their own pleasure. But such a rapprochement is the result of the development of dance culture in the last few decades, which does not, however, cancel the internal differences of directions.

To be continued...

Ireland has always been famous for its unsurpassed dance culture, but recently interest from the world community has increased even more thanks to spectacular shows that use Irish dance in a modern interpretation.

History of the creation of dance art

This culture has gone through its thousand-year history and, according to many researchers, originated from the times of the Celtic peoples, who founded their state on the territory of modern Ireland.

The most ancient image that is somewhat reminiscent of Irish dance is the Celtic Sean-Nos performed by the Gauls who lived on these islands in the distant past.

The first mention of dances similar to today's modern dances dates back to approximately the eleventh century.

A little later, under the influence of the Norman conquerors, a completely different performance culture began to emerge - a group of people dancing in a circle. And in palaces and balls, Irish dance began to gain popularity already in the sixteenth century.

A little later, about two centuries later, the first teachers of dance art appeared, thanks to whom many types and varieties of the current modern variations arose. But at the same time, terrible oppression of this culture began, so the performance of the dances was kept in strict confidence. The church considered the art of dance to be obscene. Many historians agree that Irish dance acquired the characteristic motionless position of the hands on the belt precisely after Christian priests declared that dancing in this way was indecent and inappropriate, reminiscent of sacrilege or an invisible connection with a demon.

Modern look

Already in the nineteenth century, various competitions in which the prize could be a large pie began to gain popularity in small villages and towns. The modern period in dance art begins at the end of the same century. The Gaelic League was created, which set itself the goal of preserving Irish musical culture, which had been oppressed over the last century and a half, at all costs.

Dance rules were established in 1929 by the then Irish Commission, which were in effect at various competitions. As a result, the technique has changed significantly - it is used to perform modern Irish dances to this day. In the 1930s, women began to take part in productions more often and were given the opportunity to teach in educational institutions where they taught the art of dance.

Solo performances

Irish dances have many varieties and types. An amazing pattern of movements can be seen performed by solo dancers. They represent the true embodiment of a certain grace and lightness, but at the same time energy and rhythm. Both soft and hard shoes are suitable for solo. It can look like lace-up ballet shoes or boots with heels, depending on who it is intended for (men's and women's).

How to dance Irish dance, many dancers participating in competitions learn from childhood to a variety of national melodies (reels, jigs, hornpipes), which they use for solo performances. They all have their differences, but the common features are their arms pressed to their sides and beautiful posture with a motionless torso. This is done in order to pay as much attention as possible to the complexity and clarity with which the dancers’ feet move.

Sets

It is worth highlighting traditional sets as a separate category of solo Irish dances. They are performed in hard shoes and represent a standard set of movements. As the Irish dance set is called, so is the name of the melody to which it is danced.

There is also an unconventional form of this style, performed to a slow tune by dancers of the open level. The set of movements may depend on the imagination of the teacher or the wishes of the performer.

Group dancing

This variety is distinguished by the fact that the dancers stand opposite each other, thereby forming a square, basically these are the famous quadrilles. They are not native Irish, so their movements can be found in various European styles. The differences between the dances are in the number of figures, which can vary from three to six.

In the 80s, this type became widely known to the public and was taught in many dance schools. Today, social group dances are performed at a very high speed and in a wild manner.

Kaylee

This word literally means “a fun holiday with music and dancing.” At the beginning of the twentieth century, a new style of group performances also began to be called by this term, which has survived to this day.

Keighley is usually danced in soft shoes and, unlike the solo types, the dancers use hand movements. The main thing in its implementation is the complete interaction of all partners.

Basically, this type of dance is performed to jigs and reels. They include a different number of dancers: from four to sixteen. Variations can be very different, but often these are two or four pairs of people standing opposite each other. All types of keili can be divided into linear (progressive) or curly. The first ones mean that all the dancers stand in the form of one large and long line. When they dance the entire full cycle, they move one position, and accordingly they perform the next stage of the dance with a new partner.

The second type of caylie is most often found at competitions or representative events. Various choreographic performances have led to the fact that this category of dances began to resemble real spectacular shows that won the hearts of many spectators.

Nowadays, people of different ages can dance ceilidhs at various parties. And it doesn’t matter in what manner and at what level they are performed - an amazing feeling from freedom of movement and a perky rhythm will always arise in anyone dancing this dance.

It is believed that Irish dances are in no way inferior to oriental dances in their passion, they are simply performed in a more intelligent and secretive manner.

It turns out that Irish step occupies one of the main steps among many dance and production shows.

The tunes to which Irish modern sets and square dances, as well as other forms of this art, are danced, are played mainly on bagpipes, violin and accordion, and the result is a rather catchy and playful melody.

The Irish themselves say that the best dances are Irish dances, which symbolize the strong spirit and unyielding will of this people.