How to do Irish Dancing

It's a little difficult to explain, but I'll try!
 

There are three basic steps to Light shoe dances, around which all dancers are built.
Teachers weave these into their choreography in different ways and vary them slightly, but if you can't master them in their basic form you will never really make the grade as a step dancer.

The basic steps are the Jump Threes, the Hop Threes and the Sevens or Side Step.

Start in Basic Position

1) Now lift the front leg (in this case the right) keeping it dead straight with the toes curled forwards, so don't try to lift too high. (The worst thing you can do is point your toes up so that people see the soles of your shoes)
Jump off the foot still on the floor onto the raised foot, landing just in front of where it started.
As you jump bring the back foot up to kick your behind.
This is all done at the same time so takes practice!
2) As you land, step forward onto the original back foot, placing it just in front of the other foot.
3) Tuck the original front foot "behind" to end up in "basic position" but with the other foot now in front

Jump threes are always started from whichever foot is in front.
Do threes very slowly to start with and build up speed. One Three per bar of music.
Once you have the hang of them try the lead round
 

Start in Basic Position

1) Hop on the back foot as high as possible, landing back on the same foot.
At the same time the front foot is brought up across the knee of the other leg, as high as possible
(try to  touch your hip with your toes)
2) step very slightly forward on front foot
3) tuck back foot behind

Hop threes are always started by hopping off whichever foot is behind. One three per bar of music.
 

There are usually several components :

The First Step

The Second Step (or Lead Back)

As the dances become more advanced these become a little harder to distinguish. However in the early stages they are very easily defined. Below is a basic beginners reel.

this is a Beginners Reel, so choose Reel music. Try not to make it too fast, as this is hard work!
A Reel is a soft shoe dance so either get some proper Irish shoes, or use ballet shoes or the like (preferably black)
For a costume you need something with a shorter skirt (above the knee) with plenty of material so that you can lift your legs freely. A Sports skirt would be fine, although something a little more colourful would be better.
A simple white blouse with loose sleeves would also suffice. If you really want to look traditional then take a simple scarf and pin it onto the left shoulder. Then drape it across the back and pin it at the waist on the right side.

Count the bars in your mind, stood in basic position.(the bars are usually easy to count in Irish music)
At the first note of the sixth bar point your front foot and toes forward moving the leg ahead of the back foot so that only the toes touch the ground.
Keep your feet in the same turned out position as in basic position.
You do not start dancing until the first note of the ninth bar
 

The lead round is simply Eight continuous Jump threes in a circle, alternating leading legs.
You must end up back where you started, facing the front again.
As each persons jumps are different don't try to follow someone elses circle.

Point your front foot as if starting, and bow from the waist, head and face up, arms still by your side.
Then turn towards the musician (or person running the music machine) and bow in the same way to them.
This is a recognised show of respect that all Irish dancers uphold, and it looks very smart.
Stand up straight, turn left and walk off stage with arms still by sides, and still straight legs and pointed toes.
 

 Want to learn more? Click here for details on the best Irish dance videos on the web.