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Irish Step DanceISD-CMP

Competitive Irish Step Dance

Also known as: Feis dancing, Modern Irish step

Origin
Ireland
Era
1893–Present
Rhythm
Reels, jigs (4/4, 6/8, 9/8), hornpipes
Tempo
Regulated by circuit
Character
Precise, erect, virtuosic

History & Cultural Context

Competitive Irish step dance is the highly organized solo form built on the erect, motionless-arm posture that emerged around the turn of the 20th century to spotlight intricate footwork. The Gaelic League's cultural revival led to the 1927 founding of An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), which standardized steps, certified teachers and adjudicators, and organized the feis competition system; other bodies such as An Comhdháil and the World Irish Dance Association (WIDA) run parallel circuits. Dancers perform soft-shoe dances (reel, light jig, slip jig, single jig) for elevation and hard-shoe dances (hornpipe, treble jig, set dances) for percussive rhythm, culminating in regional, national, and World Championships.

Cultural Significance

The feis system makes competitive Irish dance one of the most highly organized competitive dance cultures in the world, central to Irish identity at home and across the diaspora.

Characteristic Movement & Technique

Erect torso with arms held still at the sides; fast, turned-out, crossed-foot footwork high on the toes; soft-shoe elevation and hard-shoe percussion.

Notable Codifiers

  • An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG)
  • An Comhdháil
  • World Irish Dance Association (WIDA)

Dance Lineage

Evolved from:Sean-nós Dance

Competitive Irish Step Dance Music & Tempo

Drawn from 15 Competitive Irish Step Dance tracks in the LODance music library.

Example tracks at practice tempo

  • Primary Treble Jigs 73 — Mark Arrington73 BPM
  • Open Hornpipe 40 Bars 113 — Mark Arrington113 BPM
  • Open Treble Jig 48 Bars 73 — Mark Arrington73 BPM
  • Beginner Hornpipe 128 — Mark Arrington128 BPM
  • Primary Treble Jigs 85 — Mark Arrington85 BPM
  • Beginner Single Jig 121 — Mark Arrington121 BPM
Browse & play all 15 Competitive Irish Step Dancetracks in the Music Library →

Who governs Competitive Irish Step Dance

Federations, councils and examining bodies with a recorded role in this style. No single organisation can tell you this — each one knows only itself.

Comhdhail na Muinteoiri le Ranci Gaelacha (An Chomhdhail)Council · International · IrelandSanctions competition in what it calls Irish dancingCumann Rince Naisiunta (CRN)Association · International · IrelandSanctions competition in what it calls Irish danceWorld Irish Dance Association (WIDA)Association · InternationalSanctions competition in what it calls Irish danceIrish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA)Association · USASanctions competition in what it calls Irish danceAn Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG)Council · IrelandSanctions competition in what it calls Irish step dancing

Competitive Irish Step Dance on screen

Films and television where Competitive Irish Step Dance appears, with the sequences worth watching for.

Jig (2011)6 sequences indexedJulia O’Rourke and Brogan McCay prepare for their first WorldsGirls Under 11 World Championship: Julia O’Rourke and Brogan McCayJohn Whitehurst trains with John Carey

Poster artwork from TMDB.

TMDBThis site uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Sources & Further Reading

Cultural & Historical Context

Competitive Irish Step Dance emerged from Ireland during 1893—present day. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.

Formative Influences

Codifiers & Standardizers:

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), An Comhdháil, World Irish Dance Association (WIDA)

Primary Source Documents

The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.

Last reviewed: September 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.

More in Irish Step Dance

Sean-nós Dance

The older, improvised Irish solo step style—low to the floor, with relaxed arms and strong personal groove—surviving especially in the western Gaeltacht.

Theatrical Irish Step (Riverdance era)

The theatrical hard-shoe spectacle—line ensembles, amplified rhythm, and staged production—popularized worldwide by Riverdance from 1994 and its successors.

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