Irish step dance

Celtic footwork tradition

Irish step dance is a traditional form of dance from Ireland characterized by rapid, precise footwork while keeping the upper body and arms relatively still.

Dancers typically perform in hard or soft shoes, executing intricate patterns of steps, kicks, and leaps.

The style gained international prominence through shows like Riverdance.

Competitive step dancing follows strict rules about costume, movement, and music.

Related

Riverdance · Celtic · fiddle · ghillies · treble · hornpipe · hard shoe · clicking · rapid · stiff · upright · green · clover · Dublin · St Patrick's Day · rhythmic · percussion · footwork

Categories
Opposites
movement style

Irish step dancehula

Gestural Polynesian dance

belly dance · lyrical dance · modern dance · contemporary dance · interpretive dance

cultural/geographic origin

Irish step dancehula

Gestural Polynesian dance

belly dance · samba · capoeira · African dance · flamenco

bodily expression

Irish step dancebelly dance

Torso-focused Middle Eastern movement

hula · Bollywood dance · interpretive dance · voguing · krumping

Family

Irish, step, dance, Ireland, Irishman, Irishwoman, Irishness, steps, stepped

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G