Prepare, Stretch, Practice!

We want our current students to know the importance of:

• Preparing: knowing the language of Irish Dance and having the appropriate costumes and footwear!
• Stretching: doing so both before and after dancing is very important!
• Practicing: attention during class and practice at home both make for a successful dancer!
  

Costumes

Order Do Cairde Gear (External Link)

Beginner Steps

Irish Dance Dictionary

Stretches:Stretching before and after dancing is very important!

• Toe Touch: Spread your feet out to shoulder width. Touch the ground. Hold for 16 bars. To make it harder, try keeping your feet completely together or putting your hands flat on the ground.
  
• One Legged Toe Touch: From the previous position, move your left leg back. Keep both legs straight and bend towards the ground over your right leg. Hold, switch, and repeat.
• Calf Stretch: Stand against a wall, put one foot back, and push. Hold, switch, repeat. If you want to stretch your lower calf, bend the knee of the stretching leg slightly.
• Quad Stretch: Keeping your balance with a chair or some such, pick up your right ankle with your right hand and gently pull up. Hold, switch, repeat.
• Butterfly Stretch: Sit down and put the soles of your feet together. Pull them toward you and lean forward.
  

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Steps: Practice, Practice, Practice

Practicing at home is a very important part of Irish dancing.  Beginners should visit the page on our website for Beginner Steps, to watch the YouTube videos and follow along.  Steps (dances) we learn in class include, but are not limited to:

• Soft shoe
  
  • Reels
    
  • Jigs
    
  • Slip Jig
    
• Hard shoe
  
  • Treble Jig
    
  • Hornpipe
    
  • Treble Reel