Shoes for Irish dancing

When you decide that you are going to learn a dance or go to dancing lessons then you will need to have the correct dancing apparel and shoes. Irish dancing is one of the few dances where you will need to have two separate styles of shoes. Both soft and hard shoes are worn during Irish dancing depending on what style of dance you are performing. Both styles have different sounds and feels to them and will enable you to dance with amazing flare and style.

If you are wearing the correct dancing shoes then you will be able to learn the dance far easier and you will be very comfortable whilst dancing. Irish dancing is a very traditional dance style and the shoes and clothes have not changed that much over the years. Although the hard shoes were once made from wood with nails for taps these were heavy and made it difficult for children to dance in. The hard style shoes are now made from leather with fiberglass taps which make them lighter and easier to wear.

The softer style shoes look like ballet shoes and are very lightweight and comfortable to wear. They allow certain jigs to be performed well and to enable them to move freely. This style of Irish dance shoe will allow you to achieve the full Pointe far easier and this will look amazing when you are dancing. Irish dancing is a very traditional dance and although it has been adapted over the years the concept is still the same. You need to learn to dance with a very straight back, rigid torso and straight arms.

There are several different styles of Irish dancing which you can do and everyone will require the right dancing shoes. Some need soft shoes and others hard shoes these will not only make it more comfortable for you but also will enable the sound to be perfect when dancing. Soft shoes are used for reels, slip jig, single jig and light jig and the hard style shoes are used for the hard jig, horn pipe, treble reel and traditional sets. Although you might not have even realized that there are so many different styles of Irish dancing once you begin to learn them all then you will understand them more.

The clothing that is worn when Irish dancing, is very traditional and the people who compete take everything very seriously. You will need to have everything perfect from your shoes right up to the perfectly ringlet hair.

Every age can enjoy the dancing whether you be dancing yourself or watching other people. Irish dancing is an amazing way to bring whole communities together and even the whole nation is proud of their dancing. Not many countries still do their traditional dances anymore but Ireland has proved that it is possible to continue these traditions if you have enough spirit and pride.