Irish Dance Dictionary

Irish Dance Dictionary

Ceili – pronounced KAY-lee. An irish dance party with group and pairs dancing.

Feis – pronounced fesh. An Irish dance competition.

Ghillies – soft dance shoes with laces for girls and women.

Irish Hard Shoe – a combination of traditional set dances and modern choreography. It requires special shoes that make noise, however unlike tap shoes it is a bright sound not a metalic sound.

Hornpipe – a traditional hard shoe dance done in 2/4 or 4/4. It’s slower than a reel.

Light Jig – a soft shoe dance done in 6/8 time.

Reel – a fast dance done in 2/4 or 4/4 time. Traditional reel is done in soft shoes or ghillies. Treble reel is performed in hard shoes.

Slip Jig – a ladies’ only dance done in 5/8 time. Slip Jig requires a lot of endurance and is characterized by high leaps.