How to become an even Better Irish Dancer!

On this page you will find a helpful guide to what makes a better dancer, and lots of exercises to help you to be that dancer!

All of this information was freely provided by our friend Ariel Bennett TCRG of the Heritage Irish Stepdancers

She has very kindly passed this info on to us, as provided to her own dancers. All she has asked in return is that you take note of the following statement, which we think is very fair!
Ariel says
"Please let everyone know that they are welcome to download and
use the information with our blessing. If they would like to print it for
widespread use or post it on a website, etc. all they need to do is write us
at info@heritageirish.com and ask for permission (which we grant freely)."

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Practice is the key to success

There are several elements that are very useful in mastering Irish stepdancing

  • being gifted at dance
  • having a good teacher
  • having a positive attitude

However, the single most important thing students can do in order to improve their dancing, and reach their goals is quite simple, PRACTICE!

If you only dance in class, an hour or two a week, you will probably find that you don’t improve as quickly as you would like to. The more you practice outside of class, both exercises and actual dances, the more you will get out of the time you spend with your teacher. Instead of your teacher having to remind you of the steps they have already taught you, they can concentrate on the bits that you haven't got quite right, or better still teaching you the next steps!!!

Remember as you are practicing your exercises or your whole dance that your mental attitude is as important to your dancing as your feet and legs.

Here are some things to think about while you practice

The Five Most Important Things In Irish Dancing

1. Know Your Steps
If you don’t know your steps well enough to do them 99 times out of 100 without any basic mistakes (going the wrong way on your sevens, for example), then you first need to concentrate on practicing the step until you know it so well you could do it perfectly in your sleep--or when you’re really nervous. (like at a Feis!)

2. Match Your Steps With the Music
Irish dancing is very closely matched with its music, so it’s very important that you practice with the right music until your steps go exactly with the beat of the music. If you don’t have practice music, you should ask your teacher which music they recommend or get hold of one of the CD's or cassettes that have been especially recorded for Irish Dancers. (Try looking here)

3. Keep Your Arms Down
Your arms should stay touching your sides, with your hands loosely in fists, throughout your whole dance, no matter how difficult your steps get. Remember that how your upper body looks is just as important is how your legs look--your arms just aren’t doing anything fancy!

4. Stay Up On Your Toes
While dancing, your heels should stay off the ground at all times (unless, of course, putting your heel down is part of your step. Your teacher will always tell you if this is the case!). How high you are on the ball of your foot depends on how strong the muscles in the bottoms of your feet and calves are, so you will want to practice the exercises that work your foot muscles (see here) as well as practicing your steps up on your toes.

5. Keep Your Feet Crossed and Turned Out
Your feet and legs should stay crossed and turned out during your whole dance.
Some of the dance exercises help flexibility in your hips, where cross and turnout start. (see Turnout) Practicing in front of a mirror will also help you check your form.

To be successful you must be confident.

So Be Confident!

Start by telling yourself that you feel confident, even if you are not sure you do. Keeping your head back, your shoulders back, and your body proud makes you look more confident. (see Stance) Hesitation on any of your steps makes you look less confident.

Try to make every move assertive.
Even if you accidentally do the wrong step, if you move assertively, the mistake may not look like one.

Finally, and this should be the easiest part, SMILE!
Practice is tough and often not much fun, but I guarantee it will help make your dancing better and easier, and that is fun. So you might as well smile.
After all, this is meant to be something that you want to do! (Isn't it??)

Now try some of the Exercises that Ariel has designed to help you be a better dancer

Dance Workout . . Improve your Turnout . . Stretching . . Warm Ups