Last Updated on September 16, 2022
While you can’t go to a traditional Irish dance class, you can practice your moves at home. You can follow a few simple tips to learn the fundamentals of Irish dancing. Listed below are some tips for practicing your footwork, tempo, and lengths. Keep reading to learn more. And remember, there are many resources to help you practice Irish dance at home! Hopefully, these tips will help you improve your dancing!
Technique
Independent practice is important to help you improve your dancing and develop self-discipline. Use your time outside of class wisely, and try to find music you enjoy. Most Irish dance shoe vendors carry practice CDs for purchase. You can ask your instructor for suggestions, or find music from other dance genres. Then, play the music while you practice. If you don’t have your own music, you can buy one from a local store or download it from the Internet.
Aside from music, you can also find videos of Irish dance choreography on YouTube. A good resource is CRN Videos. These videos break down the steps and give you full-tempo Irish dances for practice. The McConnell School of Dance provides YouTube links for CRN instructional videos. Remember to share these videos with your classmates, but don’t post them on social media! Remember that each style of Irish dancing varies from region to region, so make sure to do research on your own before learning a new dance.
While many studios have mirrors for dancers to see their feet, you can practice Irish dance at home with a hallway mirror. Ideally, you should wear dance shoes. However, if you’re unsure of your footwear, you can use socks or trainers. Your instructor will also recommend the right area where you can practice. Once you’ve chosen the best area, make sure you follow their advice to practice.
Footwork
If you can’t get to a regular class, you can practice Irish dance footwork at home. You can use dance mats and paint different CRN foot positions on them. You can also practice duck walks on a mat tilted 45 degrees. You can do these drills on any number of mats and then walk back to the start after each round. You can start by walking on flat feet and work up to elevated on your toes. You can also put on some music and get the dancers to practice this drill.
You can use the breaks between classes to practice new material. CRN videos are a great way to practice new dances because they break down steps and give you full tempo Irish dance to practice. You can find CRN videos on YouTube by searching “CRN Irish dance.” Just remember that these videos are meant for students of the McConnell School of Dance and are not to be shared publicly. Likewise, different schools have different styles of Irish dance. Practice what suits your style and dance.
If you’re trying to learn the Sean nos dance Billy, you can watch a video of the four basic steps on YouTube. The video includes step instructions and text. The woman in the video shows the steps so you can practice them. Try to copy her steps as best as you can. Moreover, you can always try to practice these steps on your own to get better at it. If you’re still new to Irish dance, you can check out videos on YouTube and get started right away!
Tempo
If you’ve never danced before, you may be wondering how to practice Irish dance at home. It’s a lot easier than you might think to learn the basic moves. But the tricky part is ensuring that your body remains still and correct while executing these moves. Here are some tips to make this task as easy as possible. Keep in mind that you don’t want to be in a hunched position!
Before the class, watch CRN Videos of each dance. These videos are excellent practice tools and should be used along with the instructions you receive from your instructor. Often, Bunghrad tempos are faster than others. This is because younger dancers find it easier to execute their movements. But as you learn more complex steps, you can slow down the tempo to match your ability. Ardghrad & Craobhghrad dancers perform extremely skilled moves to slow-paced dance music.
Make sure to use a mirror. Although it may seem counterintuitive, a mirror can really help you improve your dancing technique. While a professional studio will have mirrors to practice with, a hallway mirror is just as effective. Remember to wear appropriate clothing – Irish dancing shoes are ideal for dancing, but you can also wear socks and trainers. A great pair of shoes can also make a huge difference in your dancing.
Lengths
Practicing Irish dance at home is a great way to develop your dancing technique and develop your personal initiative. While it is important to practice correctly, you should also enjoy the process. Using the time outside of class wisely is important for both you and your partner. You can ask your partner for advice on practice music or you can buy a CD at your favorite Irish dance shoe vendor. If you’re still unsure about what music to choose, you can also ask your teacher for a recommendation.
One good way to practice new moves is by watching CRN videos. These videos break down the steps and give you a full-tempo Irish dance to practise. For McConnell School of Dance students, YouTube links to CRN instructional videos are available. Be aware that these videos are intended for their students only; please do not post them on social media. While you can try to find the right tempo for your dance, remember that tempos vary from style to style.
Keeping one knee in front of the other
Practice in a mirror so you can see your feet. The most distinguishing feature of Irish dancing is the crossing of the knees, which create a diamond shape between crossed ankles. Practice with a hard and soft pair of shoes. Tina Shelley came up with a great visualisation for keeping your toes high: imagine putting an orange underneath your heels. You don’t want your heels to squash the orange. Another visualisation is a tight rope in front of you. Try this to keep your feet tight and your movements in front of you.
One of the most difficult aspects of this dance is keeping one knee in front of the other. When switching legs, the leg in front must be kept in close proximity to the other knee to maintain balance. Dancers are often told to keep their knees together when switching from right to left, but the trick is to keep them close together all the time. Tina Shelley recommends this technique when dancing.
Crossing technique is important in Irish dancing. A good dancer maintains good posture. If their shoulders droop or their chests arch, they’re not dancing well. To avoid these bad habits, practice in a mirror or do other exercises to strengthen the inner thighs and glutes. It is also important to keep one knee in front of the other when practicing Irish dance at home.
Practicing with a practice pad
Practicing Irish dance at home requires a practice pad that is large enough to absorb sound and provides cushioning on harder surfaces. You may not have the space to practice outdoors, but a practice pad can help you get the most out of your practice sessions. It is important to choose a practice pad that is made for Irish dancing, but you also need to consider the size and weight of your shoes.
An inexpensive way to practice side steps is to paint your dance mat with a CRN foot position. You can practice these steps by painting different positions on the floor and attempting to dance them on the mats. You can even paint duck walks on the mats at 45 degrees. Practice duck walks by walking back and forth, alternating feet and music, and then repeat the drill. Eventually, you’ll be able to get more comfortable dancing with a practice pad.
About The Author
Alison Sowle is the typical tv guru. With a social media evangelist background, she knows how to get her message out there. However, she's also an introvert at heart and loves nothing more than writing for hours on end. She's a passionate creator who takes great joy in learning about new cultures - especially when it comes to beer!