what influenced irish dancing?

Answer 1

Hey irishblend13,

Irish people being so drunk they could not move their arms. I am Irish.


Ok, here we go...this is rather long, but it's worth it! I included in here information about the origins of irish dance, how the first dancing schools and feisanna were started, how the dancing commission was started, and more. Hopefully, you'll have enough patience to read this!! :o)

Little is known about Irish Dancing before the 5th century, A.D. because Viking raders destroyed most books from this period, therefore, there are few written records about dancing. The artwork, though, has survived to influence the designs on Irish Dancing costumes.

The first feisanna are dated back to 1014 a.d. They were a combination of a trade fair, political gatherings, and cultural events, which included music, sporting events, storytelling, and crafts. But as time passed, the cultural aspect came to dominate feisianna, has continued through time to the present. Feisanna today have all but politics; music, dance, crafts, and trade (the vendors!).

The records of the mid-1500's contain a variety of dances the Irish did. The dances were the Rinnce Fada or Fading where two lines of partners faced each other, Irish Hey (possibly a round or figure dance), jigs (most likely in a group), Trenchmores (described as a big free form country dance), and sword dances. It isn't exact whose dancing influenced whose between the Irish, English, and French, but it was characteristic that Irish dances had a faster tempo and included side steps. English suppression of Irish culture continued, now banning of piping and the arrest of pipers. However, Queen Elizabeth I said that she was "exceedingly pleased" with Irish tunes and country dances. Who isn't???

One of the most influential events on irish dancing were the presence of dancing masters in about 1750, beginning a tradition that continues through today. Dancing masters were most likely to travel throughout a county, stopping for about six weeks in each village they passed, staying with a host family. The masters usually taught Irish dancing in farm outbuildings, crossroads, kitchens, or hedge schools. They first taught their students the reel and the jig. It is said that teachers sometimes had to tie a rope around a student's leg to distinguish the right foot from the left! (I think I need a rope! HAHAH!!!) Besides dancing instruction, they also appear to have given fencing lessons, too!

Each dancing master had a series of dance steps, and he also created steps over time. It is called "Step dancing" because 8 measures of music is one "step", hence the name!! How smart!!! hehe. Anyway, at the local feisanna, dancers would compete (so THAT'S how it got started!!! Isn't history cool?) against each other, winning under the circumstances of knowing more steps, not how well they did them.

The dancing masters created the first Irish dancing schools, describing themselves as such things like "artificial rythmical walkers" and "instructor of youth in the Terpsichorean art." How about just "dance teacher"??? :o) The best known teachers were from counties Kerry, Cork, and Limerick.

In about 1930, an Irish Dancing Commission (Coimisiun le Rinci' Gaelacha) was founded to establish rules on judging, teaching, and competitions, and continues throughout today. Prior to these establishments, many variations in music, dances, rules of feisanna and costumes existed. Part of the impact of the Commission was standardization of competitions.

Before this, the stages used to be much smaller. People would use, doors (on the ground, of course!), table tops, and sometimes crossroads! Think of a table top, then think of Riverdance!!!!! wow! People would test dancing ability by dancing on a soapy table or the top of a barrel!!! As the stages became wider, Irish dancing changed a bit. The adjucators would now subtract points if the dancers would not "use the stage", and dancing steps that needed more room became possible (like "flying leaps"...like Colin Dunne!!). The location of competitions also changed. Instead of barns and crossroads, the competitions were held in hotels, schools, and fairgrounds.

Are you still wondering why in Irish dance, the arms are held down at the sides of the body? Before, the arms were more relaxed and were even placed on the hips. But the influence of parish priests led to the lack of arm movement. Some say that stiff arms were less provocative, and others say that the Church was trying to increase the dancer's self control. However, hand movements are still occur in figure dances.

If you're still with me, I'm very impressed!!! This is the last part, so hang on! I recently heard that women didn't take part in irish dancing, because it was not "ladylike" to sweat. (yeah, I know.... WHATEVER!!!) Therefore, women didn't get involved until the masters invented the "slip jig" especially for women. Traditionally, the arms were held with one stiffly down at the side of the body, and one upon the hip. So I just figured out, that when Jean Butler dances her first slip jig, The Countess Cathleen, that she's actually doing a traditional thing with her arms!! I thought it was just a show!

So there you have it! If you're asleep, wake up!! Sorry that took so long, but I hope you've learned something!

Answer 2

There have been many influences throughout the ages since the time when jigs were danced in ancient Ireland. Folk Dancing was a pastime practiced in homes during the winter time, and the crossroads were a popular gathering place for dancing in the summer. The Normans have been credited for introducing the round dance into Ireland around the 12th century. There were two types of dance, solo step dancing where a dancer taps out rhythms with their feet whilst keeping their upper body rigid, and group dancing. Along with traveling bards and musicions, dancing masters went from town to town in the latter half of the eighteenth century teaching the various dance steps and forms. Foreign dances like the British and French military quadrilles and Scottish reels were adapted to fit the traditional music avaiable, and were the forerunners of the present Irish ceili, step and set dances.

In the early 1900s nationalism led to the standardisation of Ceili dances. The Catholic clergy saw the introduction of foreign dances like the fox-trot and waltz, where couples were in close contact, as a threat to the morals of youth. The Gaelic League, an organisation which was committed to the revival of Gaelic culture, saw it as an opportunity to spurn set dancing which also involved close contact, partly because it was associated with Britain and they organised dances which were more formal. This is when the form of the arms held rigidly at the sides was started. The 1936 Dance Hall act introduced by the church influenced government, which was put in place to regulate (by license) dancing venues, put an end to house, cross roads and platform dances.

A revival of interest in set dancing was sparked by the Gaelic Athletic Association's (G.A.A.)and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann competitions. In 1982 at the Willie Clancy Summer School, Milltown-Mallybay, Co. Clare, Joe O'Donovan introduced the set dancing classes.

The 7 minute 'Riverdance'by a group led by Michael Flatley and Jean Butler at intermission of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin (which included a vocal introduction by Anuna), revolutionised the perception of Irish dance and led to the extended 'Riverdance - the show' The popularity was such that it has led to the latest interest in Irish Dancing.

Answer 3

The 7 minute 'Riverdance'by technique of a set led by technique of Michael Flatley and Jean Butler at intermission of the 1994 Eurovision song Contest in Dublin (which protected a vocal creation by technique of Anuna), revolutionised the idea of Irish dance and presented about the prolonged 'Riverdance - the educate' the acceptance became such that it has presented about the present interest in Irish Dancing.

Answer 4

irish music and the tradition of irish culture throughtout the ages

Answer 5

All the snakes, as they were leaving Ireland.

Answer 6

Irish whiskey!

Answer 7

lots and lots of beer and whiskey

Answer 8

opression