Nelson Academy

Irish dance is a completely different world in comparison to ballet, tap or jazz. Our form of dance is rooted deep in culture from it’s costumes to it’s music. For someone starting out, the unique traditions can be challenging to get use to. But once accepted, one finds how rewarding and beautiful this art form truly is. We’ve comprised a list of a few basic characteristics of Irish dance that will better acquaint you with the culture.

“What to expect when…..”

…starting out: There are no definite age margins when beginning Irish dance. We don’t discourage anyone from trying, but we typically don’t take children before the age of 5. That, however, is up to the discretion of the instructor (feel free to contact us with any questions regarding this). We have such a broad spectrum of beginning ages that it’s hard to narrow down an accurate range. We encourage anyone, of any age to begin (adults, too!).

As a beginner, you’ll start by mastering one form of Irish dance: soft shoe (named for the “soft shoes” we wear while doing these steps: “ghillies” for ladies and “reel shoes” for gents. More on that below). In the realm of soft shoe, you’ll learn the foundational steps of Irish dance, the correct form and posture, and how to differentiate between types of steps with the appropriate Irish music that goes accordingly.

In the beginning, it’s ok to not invest in the traditional footwear right away (we understand that it can be a little on the expensive side). But after getting acclimated towards Irish dance and progressing in level, it IS expected to wear the appropriate footwear. Ladies should wear ghillies (young ladies should wear poodle socks with their ghillies); gents should wear reel shoes. See our “Helpful Links” page to directed you to some useful websites that can help with the correct US-UK size conversion and also some “brand names” that we tend to favor.

In order to better see and improve your dance form, it is recommended that you wear shorts to practice. We also ask that you pull long hair up and away from the face as it usually causes a distraction while dancing.

So what to expect as a beginner?: Come prepared fall in love with Irish dance and have fun!!

…when moving up: After you’ve completed your first year of Irish dance, you’ll continue to work hard on mastering the different areas in soft shoe, but you’ll also be introduced to a new form: hard shoe. Hard shoe is a completely different ball park when it comes to Irish dance so it is imperative that you build the foundational muscles and methods in your first year. During your second year, you may chose to compete in your first feis (pronounced “fesh”. A traditional Gaelic word for an Irish competition of festival). Whether you go to watch or go to compete, your first feis will be nothing short of a cultural, eye-opening experience. Be prepared to see gaudy dresses, huge wigs and extreme dancing! If competing, there are a few things you should become accustom to first…

…when competing: Competitors are broken up in different levels according to their ages, abilities and experience:

• Beginner: A dancer who has not completed a year of Irish dance classes nor began hard shoe.
• Advance Beginner: A dancer who has completed a year of Irish dance and is beginning a foundational hard shoe regimen.
• Novice: A dancer who has received a 1st, 2nd or 3rd rankings in particular dances (reel, light jig, slip jig, treble jig, hornpipe) will move up ONLY in those dances.
• Prizewinner: One who has achieved full Novice status and has placed consecutively at Novice level will then be ready to move up to Prizewinner under the discretion of the instructor.
• Preliminary Champion (Prelim): One who has achieved full Prizewinner status and has placed consecutively at Prizewinner level will then be ready to move up to Prelims under the discretion of the instructor.
• Open Champion: A dancer who has placed 1st twice in Prelims.

Traditional attire is mandatory when competing. Footwear is the same as in class (ghillies, hard shoes and poodle socks for young ladies; ghillies and black tights for women; reel shoes and hard shoes with dark socks for gents).