Irish Set Dancing FAQs
What is Irish set dancing?
Firstly, it's a lot of fun! Irish set dancing is a traditional form of social dancing, where people dance in sets consisting of groups of four couples, arranged in a square. It's danced to traditional Irish music - reels, jigs, slides, polkas, hornpipes - and, like any good dancing, the dance is as much about enjoying the music as it is about the movement.
What if I have never danced before?
Then it's as good a way to start dancing as any other!
How energetic is it?
That's really up to you; you can kick up your heels and be quite wild, or you can keep it relaxed and close to the ground. We have dancers from all age-groups and levels of fitness. If you are not particularly fit, don't let that put you off - you can certainly build up your fitness by dancing!
Do I need to have a partner?
Not at all - lots of people come along who don't have a dancing partner. We are a friendly lot, we won't leave anyone sitting out who wants to get up and dance!
Should I wear anything special?
Comfortable footwear with a reasonably smooth sole, either flat or with a small, wide heel. Definitely no high heels, stilettos or steel toe-caps - they are not safe dancing shoes either for you or other dancers! Runners, swing shoes, Converse, Vans all okay. When you get more experienced you may find you prefer shoes with hard leather soles, but they certainly aren't essential. Other than that, really, anything goes!
I'm queer - do I have to dance in a traditional gender role?
All set dances are done with couples, however we are comfortable with anyone dancing on either the left or the right side of the couple (and swapping sides between dances if they want to). At this time, we still use the traditional terminology of Irish set dance, which refers to 'gents on the left and ladies on the right', as many of the older dancers get confused by gender-neutral language. We are open to change in the future!
Firstly, it's a lot of fun! Irish set dancing is a traditional form of social dancing, where people dance in sets consisting of groups of four couples, arranged in a square. It's danced to traditional Irish music - reels, jigs, slides, polkas, hornpipes - and, like any good dancing, the dance is as much about enjoying the music as it is about the movement.
What if I have never danced before?
Then it's as good a way to start dancing as any other!
How energetic is it?
That's really up to you; you can kick up your heels and be quite wild, or you can keep it relaxed and close to the ground. We have dancers from all age-groups and levels of fitness. If you are not particularly fit, don't let that put you off - you can certainly build up your fitness by dancing!
Do I need to have a partner?
Not at all - lots of people come along who don't have a dancing partner. We are a friendly lot, we won't leave anyone sitting out who wants to get up and dance!
Should I wear anything special?
Comfortable footwear with a reasonably smooth sole, either flat or with a small, wide heel. Definitely no high heels, stilettos or steel toe-caps - they are not safe dancing shoes either for you or other dancers! Runners, swing shoes, Converse, Vans all okay. When you get more experienced you may find you prefer shoes with hard leather soles, but they certainly aren't essential. Other than that, really, anything goes!
I'm queer - do I have to dance in a traditional gender role?
All set dances are done with couples, however we are comfortable with anyone dancing on either the left or the right side of the couple (and swapping sides between dances if they want to). At this time, we still use the traditional terminology of Irish set dance, which refers to 'gents on the left and ladies on the right', as many of the older dancers get confused by gender-neutral language. We are open to change in the future!
