Ceilis and Set dancing

Ceili and Irish Set dancing are both forms of social dancing. "Ceili dances were derived from group set dances and French quadrilles, but were set to Irish music. Nationalism, combined with the Handbook of Irish Dances published in 1902, led to standardization of ceili dances. Recording the descriptions of these dances occurred through the 1930s. For example, the Sweets of May and A Trip to the Cottage were discovered in South Armagh, being known only to a group of elderly men and women. Luckily, many ceili dances were recorded before being lost in history" (Anne Robinson website).

"In Ceili dancing there are a few basic steps, and each dance combines these steps in different ways with a caller and Irish music. This is the sort of dancing you may have seen in the movie The Titanic. Many dances involve a partner, or are in groups of three or four. Some dances are in a large circle, some in lines with couples facing, some in groups of three or four. Set dancing is almost always done in "sets" of four couples in a square" (ceili twin cities website).

 

 

 

 

Solo step dancing and Set dances

Jigs, and reels can be danced in hard or soft shoes, although reels are often more for show than in competitions. Slip jis are performed by females and only in soft shoes.

Jigs are done to music in 6/8 time, slip jigs are in 9/8 time, hornpipes (only in hard shoes) are in 4/4 or 2/4 time and reels are in 4/4 time.

Set dances are done to a specific tune no matter where you are and have specific or set steps to them. All of them have names and some songs have lyrics as well. They are always danced in hard shoes.

Here is a good list of the approved set dances grouped by timing:

http://www.irish-dancer.co.uk/set.html

 

 

here are links to some resources for more information and references used above:

http://www.geocities.com/ceilis_twincities/whatisbody.html

http://www.geocities.com/aer_mcr/irdance/irhist.html