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Photo by Shelly Hathaway Photography

I’ve wanted to try mixing the two styles for some time now, so I choreographed an Irish dance number to a famous Linkin Park song and recorded myself dancing it in street clothes and sneakers. I danced it outside with very relaxed posture and arms, much like you would if dancing hip-hop choreography. Since the entire feel is urban while the actual steps are Irish, I’ve decided to call it Urban Irish Street Dancing. Enjoy!

Have you ever attempted mixing Irish dance with another style of dancing?

Video by Shelly Hathaway.

If you’re taking Irish dance classes from a certified school, chances are you already know your basic technique. The sad thing is, there are many schools out there that do not have TCRG certified instructors. TCRG stands for Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha (Gaelic: Commission Certified Irish Dance Teacher). Teachers who have qualified to receive TCRG certification have proven their skills in teaching traditional Irish dance. Unlike some Irish dance teachers, TCRGs will do a lot more than teach you a few cool moves they learned while watching Riverdance on PBS. In order to receive certification, potential TCRGs have to go through a difficult testing process, proving their knowledge and execution of traditional and modern Irish dancing technique.

If you take classes from a certified TCRG you won’t just learn cool moves, you’ll learn how to execute them properly. After a few years of classes, once your technique begins to improve, you’ll hardly recognize yourself when you dance. It’s the proper execution of Irish dance technique that makes an Irish dancer’s feet look like a blur to the untrained eye. Proper technique is also the key to mastering lightness in your feet and the illusion of flight when you leap. An Irish dancer who has trained at a certified school is always working on improving their technique.

So for those of you who don’t train at a certified school, or if you’re a beginner who hasn’t mastered the basics yet, here’s a list of 10 things to remember every time you Irish dance.

Irish Dance Basic Technique
10 Things To Remember Every Time You Dance

1 ~ Turn Out Your Feet
As a beginner, it took me a about 6 months to realize what Tina Shelley meant every time she shouted, “Turn out your feet!” Then I realized this means from start to finish, your feet should always be turned outward as far as possible. A dancer with bad technique often dances with their feet straight forward or sometimes even turned inward. Tina often refers to ‘a diamond’ when she wants dancers to turn their feet out. Stand in front of a mirror with your feet crossed and turned out. If your feet are turned out properly, you should be able to see a diamond shaped space between your legs and ankles.

2 ~ Keep Your Arms Straight & Behind Your Back
This is something most people notice about Irish dancers right away. It’s a huge element that makes Irish dance unique. Yes, Michael Flatley’s arms love to flail about every which way in Riverdance, but proper Irish dance technique requires that your arms are straight with hands hidden behind your back at all times.

3 ~ Point Your Toes
This seems simple enough, but a really great Irish dancer points her toe every time she lifts it off the ground, kicks her butt, or leaps through the air. There are exceptions to this rule, but when in doubt, ALWAYS point your toes.

4 ~ Keep Your Knees Crossed
This is possibly the hardest technique to master. It may sound easy, but keeping one knee in front of the other knee at all times is very difficult. Since the leg in front switches from right to left constantly, a dancer must keep her knees as close together as possible when they switch. Tina Shelley often refers to this as ‘kissing your knees’ because when the front leg switches to the back, the knees should always touch or ‘kiss’.

5 ~ Keep Your Shoulders Back
When you’ve been dancing for a few hours, it can be really hard to keep your shoulders back. A great Irish dancer always keeps her shoulders back, which gives her excellent posture. Keeping your arms straight is not enough if you droop your shoulders and your posture is hunched over.

6 ~ Head Up, And Eyes Up
You should always have your head up and eyes up. For years I didn’t realize my eyes were looking down at the ground when I Irish danced. I mastered having my head up and straight, but it wasn’t till my 2nd year in champs that I finally trained myself to look straight forward as well. Looking up at your audience instead of at the ground adds confidence to your performance. It’s more challenging that you think it would be!

7 ~ Stay High On Your Toes
Irish dancers should be as high on their toes as possible, in soft AND hard shoe. Tina Shelley came up with a fantastic way to remember to stay on your toes. Imagine there are oranges or even grapefruits under your heels. If your heel comes down, you’ll squish it. Don’t squish the orange!

8 ~ Imaginary Tightrope
This one can be easy to forget, even if you’re in championship. You should always imagine a tightrope in front you. Every step, lift and leap should be danced on that tightrope. This keeps your dance tight and your moves right in front of you, instead of lazily to the side.

9 ~ Travel
Move your dance! This is one way to recognize whether a dancer has learned from a certified school or not. Dancers who have unqualified teachers never learn that a great Irish dancer uses her stage! Often she’ll fly from once corner to the other in only a few moves. It adds excitement and energy to the performance. A little jig danced in place is nice, but it doesn’t constitute a powerful performance.

10 ~ Make It Look Easy
There are Irish dancers who have been training for 10 years that still make what they do look hard and tiring. The intense workout can drain you long before the dance is over and that’s when you need to force a pleasant smile on your face and pretend like what your doing is the easiest thing in the world. Irish dance is so intense that many people see it as more of a sport. But I’ve never seen NBA basketball players do everything they do with perfect posture, light feet and a big smile on their face. Irish dancers have to be masters of making what they do look easy.

Keep in mind, once you start working hard on improving your technique, the intense concentration might cause you to forget to let go and just dance. Technique is extremely important, but it’s not everything. The way you feel when you dance has a huge effect on your performance. Don’t forget why you started dancing in the first place. Irish dance is supposed to be fun, so while you’re working hard on perfecting your technique, make sure you give yourself a chance to enjoy it!

Article written by Shelly Hathaway.
Photos by Shelly Hathaway Photography.

It was a lot of fun to make and I plan to post more videos of myself Irish dancing on this blog in the future. So here’s the final video that I showed at the Christmas party. Enjoy!

Video by Shelly Hathaway.

An Irish dance flash mob is a rare treat! Check out this fantastic Irish dancing flash mob that took place at a central station in Sydney, Australia last March in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The mob included over 100 Irish dancers, some of which were members of Riverdance.

Watch more Flash Mob videos in my latest Thinkbits blog post: There’s Nothing Cooler Than A Flash Mob.

Article written by Shelly Hathaway.

I’ve watched it happen a lot, and it always bothers me. Some Irish dancers can get a little arrogant once they reach Championship level. Being one of only five Open Championship dancers at my school, I know exactly how it happens. When you start out as a beginner you look up to the advanced dancers at your school. Everything they do is amazing because you don’t know how they do it. You can’t help but idolize the champ dancers a little, and it’s not really a bad thing since watching someone who is more advanced than you can give you something to shoot for.

It can however, be a bad thing for the dancer who is on the receiving end of all that excessive attention and admiration. When I finally got to Championships I was a little intimidated at first, but soon realized I could do most of what the others could do. After a few years the dancers who were far more advanced than me either quit dancing or transferred to other schools and it was about that time that I won into Open championships. For six months I was the only one at the Shelley School in Open champs and I have to tell you it was a very strange feeling. I was never popular growing up so I was not used to walking into a room and quickly being surrounded by dancers wanting to talk to me. Other dancers would notice what I said and laugh at my jokes, compliment me after dancing almost every time. I was quite invisible with only a two or three friends only a year before, so I definitely noticed the difference.

It made me feel very self conscience when I realized that I was now on the receiving end of all the admiration I had once given to other dancers. More importantly, I realized that I was now responsible for treating all the dancers who looked up to me with kindness and respect. I remembered what it was like to be a beginner. Advanced dancers were very intimidating. When they smiled at me or paid me a compliment, what they said stuck with me for years. When they treated me like I wasn’t worth their time, I remembered that as well.

There are Championship dancers out there (mind you, they’re usually teenagers) who abuse their power of influence. They do not to accept that their words and actions have great meaning to those who look up to them. They choose only the most talented and attractive friends and either ignore or roll their eyes when a less advanced dancer tries to say hi or pay them a compliment. I’ve seen and felt the damage this type of cocky behavior does to someone and I refuse to ever be the one who shatters the confidence of an aspiring dancer.

It’s amazing the effect it can have on the entire school when the Championship dancers are kind and respectful to all the other dancers. The environment is relaxed, fun and exciting! Everyone feels welcome instead of intimidated or invisible. Why should there be an elite group of dancers huddled in the corner telling secrets, making everyone else feel left out? I wish I could say all the advanced dancers at my school are respectful and kind to beginners. Most of them are, but there are a few who still have a lot to learn. Once in a while I see Championship dancers treating beginners with disrespect and it always bothers me.

If you are a Championship level Irish dancer, you should take a moment right now and ask yourself, how do you treat the other dancers at your school? Odds are there are a lot who look up to you and notice everything you do and say. Don’t be the dancer who treats beginners like they aren’t worth your time. Believe me, if you think you’re better then they are, you’re going to feel pretty silly in three years when one of them beats you at a Feis. Remember, you set an example for those who look up to you. Chances are if you treat beginners with disrespect and unkindness, they’ll do the same thing one day when someone else looks up to them.

Article written by Shelly Hathaway
Photos by Shelly Hathaway Photography

Do you have an Irish dancer on your Christmas shopping list? It can be really hard to shop for an Irish dancer since you can’t find poodle socks or curly wigs at your local mall. Even if you do live in a central location for Irish dance like Dublin or New York it’s still difficult to know what makes a great Irish dance gift and where to look for it. Whenever I need supplies for dance, like any other Irish dancer I have to shop online. So if you have an Irish dancer on your list, instead of driving to the local mall, I suggest flipping open your laptop.

So now that you know where to shop, the big question is: just what kind of things are on an Irish dancer’s wish list? Thinking of affordable ideas can be tricky if you’re not an Irish dancer yourself. I’ve been dancing for over 8 years so I can tell you right now it’s a very expensive hobby. Solo dresses range from $300 to $3000 USD, wigs cost around $100 USD and dance shoes cost anywhere from $60 to $200 USD.

A generous shopper looking to spend a lot of money on a gift probably won’t have a hard time, but for those of you who are looking for affordable gifts that any Irish dancer will love, here are a few suggestions…

Great Gift Ideas For An Irish Dancer

• Shoe Buckles ($15.00 USD ~ Find it online at Triskelt)
  Glitter square or celtic knot shoe buckles are coming back in style. Irish dancers attach them to their hard shoes to add a little extra sparkle to their costume.
• Glitter ($8.75 USD ~ Find it online at BA*STAR)
  Glitter is becoming a very popular thing to wear for big competitions like the Oireachtas or Nationals.
• Poodle Socks ($7.50 USD ~ Find it online at Irish Treasures)
  Chances are the 10 pair they own are getting a little dingy. Every dancer wants a shining white pair for the next feis.
• Irish Dancing Music ($18.59 USD ~ Find it online at Dean Crouch)
  In my experience, one of the first gift ideas that most people think of for an Irish dancer is music. I have to tell you right now, if you don’t know anything about Irish dance rhythms, you are most likely going to a buy a CD that will never get used. Irish dance music has very specific rhythms and they have to be recorded at specific speeds. Buying a CD that says Irish Dance Music on the cover from BestBuy is most likely NOT going to have anything a competitive Irish dancer can actually use. There are, however artists who produce music specifically for Irish dancers. Dean Crouch and Kin’sha produce CDs that any Irish dancer can dance to, but keep in mind, these artists are very popular among Irish dancers. Make sure the person you’re buying it for doesn’t already own it.



• Dance Sneakers ($60.00 USD ~ Find it online at Rutherford Shoes )
  Rutherford Shoes has created special sneakers that have a squared off toe for toe stands. They also have new rainbow colored shock absorbent sneakers available!
• Therabands ($7.91 USD ~ Find it online at Amazon)
  Therabands are wonderful for stretching out an Irish dancer’s ankles and toes. We use them in class all the time.
• Sock Glue ($10.00 USD ~ Find it online at Rutherford Shoes)
  Ever wonder how our socks stay up? Every Irish dancer wants more sock glue.
• Black Duct Tape ($5.49 USD ~ Find it online at Amazon)
  When a surface is too slippery to dance on, Irish dancers put black duct tape on the soles of their ghillies and hard shoes to add friction. Some dancers are also fans of colored duct tape.



• Leg Warmers ($8.95 USD ~ Find it online at Dance Wear Solutions)
  Don’t laugh! Irish dancers LOVE leg warmers. They are also wonderful for practicing in the winter since shorts are usually required for class.
• Flower Hair Clips ($9.00 USD ~ Find it online at My Diva’s Closet)
  It’s becoming very popular for Irish dancers to wear a flower in their hair at competitions. If you can find one that matches your Irish dancer’s solo dress, this is a fantastic gift idea.
• Good Luck Charms ($11.95 USD ~ Find it online at Four Leaf Clover)
  A big competition can make any Irish dancer really nervous. You can buy your dancer a necklace with a real four leaf clover inside for good luck to help calm their nerves at the next Feis.
• Senegence Lipstick ($22.00 USD ~ Call Kristina at 801-473-5865)
  Lipstick that will NOT rub off! It stays on all day. Great for a long day at a Feis, especially for young dancers who aren’t used to wearing makeup.
• Hard Shoe Laces ($1.00 USD ~ Find it online at Rutherford Shoes)
  A great stocking stuffer! An extra pair of hard shoe laces is always a smart idea.
• Shoe Polish ($2.99 USD ~ Find it online at Amazon)
  Sounds like a strange idea, especially for a girl, but hard shoes always need to be polished before a competition.



• Jean Butler Masterclass DVD ($14.99 USD ~ Find it online at Amazon)
  Great for a beginner or advanced dancer. On this DVD, Jean Butler, star of Riverdance, reveals techniques and drills that helped her become an amazing Irish dancer.
• Bobby Pins ($1.29 USD ~ Find it online at Walgreens)
  Those wigs don’t stay on all by themselves. Bobby pins keep wigs from flying off on stage. Ponytail holders are also a good idea, great for practice.
• Feis America Magazine ($39.95 USD ~ Find it online at Feis America)
  Buying a subscription to Feis America Magazine is a great gift idea. It’s one of the only magazines out there completely devoted to Irish dance.
• Duffel Bag ($45.00 USD ~ Find it online at Nike)
  Every Irish dancer needs a medium to large size duffel bag to take their shoes and other dance gear to and from practice.
• Hard Shoe Elastics ($4.00 USD ~ Find it online at Irish Treasures)
  Sometimes hard shoes like to slip of your feet. A lot of dancers depend on these to keep their shoes on tight while dancing.
• Irish Dance Barbie Doll ($50.00 USD ~ Find it online at Ebay)
  She used to be a lot cheaper, but Mattel has created an Irish dance Barbie doll. Fantastic gift! I own one myself. The cheapest place to buy her would be on Ebay, but she is also available at Amazon.
• Medal Display Case ($48.95 USD ~ Find it online at Amazon)
  Even if they’re just a beginner, Irish dancers can collect medals from Feiseanna really fast. A fancy case to display the awards they’ve won makes a great gift.

I hope these suggestions help you find the perfect gift for the Irish dancer on your Christmas list. Whether you’re looking to spend a lot or just need some last minute stocking stuffers, this list should definitely give you some ideas to get you started. Have fun shopping!

Can you think of another great gift for an Irish dancer?

Article written by Shelly Hathaway
Header photo by Shelly Hathaway Photography

You’ve been practicing hard all year to prepare for the big Irish dance competition. For many months now your muscles are sore every day from intense drills in class. You’ve taken apart every step in your hard and soft shoe dances and perfected your technique as much as possible.

Now it’s less than a week before the Feis, Oireachtas, Nationals or even Worlds and you want to push yourself hard all week so you can perform your absolute best. That’s when you start to wonder if you’ve done enough to prepare. Are you actually ready? Or should you put in a couple extra hours at the studio to help yourself feel more at ease?

I’ve learned it’s very important to do the right things the week before a major competition. So I’ve created a list of 5 things every Irish dancer should do to prepare for a competition when it’s only a few days away.

1: Take It Easy When You Dance
You know your steps, you’ve put in the work. Your body is trained and in shape. When you only have a few days to go, DON’T dance at full strength. It’s helpful to run your steps so they stay fresh in your mind, but don’t push yourself to the limit like usual. Pushing your muscles hard weakens them temporarily while strengthening them in the long run. Very effective when training for a feis, but not a good idea with only a few days to go. The last thing you want at a major competition is to be sore and unable to dance at full strength. Also, pushing yourself too hard puts you at higher risk of injury. I’m sure any dancer will agree it’s better to get injured when there isn’t a competition only days away.

2: Stretch Out More Than Usual
Since you won’t be dancing as much as usual, stretching is a fantastic way to keep your muscles loose and fresh. Stretch out once or twice a day for at least 15 to 30 minutes.

3: Soak In The Tub After Practice
Right before a competition is a great time to massage your muscles, get extra sleep and take long baths. Taking a long bath after dancing and stretching out is a great idea. It helps relax your muscles after a lot of strain. Remember, Irish dancers push themselves physically all the time. If you don’t give your body a proper amount of rest, your body won’t be there for you when you need it.

4: Pack A Day Early
If you’re traveling for this competition, you’re going to want to give yourself enough sleep the night before a flight. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been up till midnight packing when my flight was scheduled to leave at 7:00 AM the next day. The last thing you want to do after all your hard work to prepare is let it all go to waste because you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. I suggest packing everything you possibly can a day early. That way you can be sure to get to bed early the night before your flight and have a stress free night sleep. This also helps because you might have forgotten to pick up something important at the store. No one wants to be running through Walmart at 1:00 AM looking for travel size deodorant when they have an early flight to catch in the morning.

5: Eat A Hearty Meal The Night Before
Like any other form of physical activity, Irish dancers perform best on a full stomach. Eat a hearty dinner the night before you compete as well as a healthy breakfast the day of the feis. I’m not talking about just salad and a rice cake. You need energy and empty calories are not going to do it for you. Trust me, I dance best after eating hearty meals that include food like pasta and rolls, large sandwiches with cheese, meat, tomatoes and lettuce. Juice, yogurt, muffins, pancakes and cereal are great for breakfast. Fill yourself up because if you have no energy to burn, your body will only be working on empty fumes. Don’t throw away all your strength and energy simply because you want to look slim in your new dress.

Above all else, just relax and know that what you do in the last few days is simply to help you stay focused and strong. The real work is already finished and losing your good luck charm or failing to run through your dance flawlessly 10 times the day before is not going to effect your performance. Stay mentally strong. With only one week to go you have already put in the work so just relax and enjoy the ride!

Article written by Shelly Hathaway
Photos by Shelly Hathaway Photography

Since the Oireachtas is right around the corner, I thought I’d feature a couple fantastic videos of Irish dance teams performing breathtaking choreography with flawless precision. Enjoy!

1st Place, World Champions
Doherty Academy Senior Mixed Figure Team
Oireachtas Rince Na Cruinne (Worlds) 2010

1st Place, World Champions
Claddagh Senior Mixed Figure Team
Oireachtas Rince Na Cruinne (Worlds) 2009

The Hallows of Ireland
Kelly-Oster Under 15 Figure Team
Mid Atlantic Oireachtas 2008

Article written by Shelly Hathaway

You work hard for it all year, and when the Oireachtas is finally only a couple weeks away you start to feel the nerves. In the past my nerves have driven me to work a little too hard, leaving my muscles incredibly sore and sometimes even injuring myself.

This year I’ve decided to practice hard, but make sure to take breaks whenever I feel I need them. Last week I felt a pain in the bottom of my right foot after doing a certain toe lift drill too many times in class. When the pain didn’t go away the next day, it had me worried, so I took a day off practice the following week and have stayed away from doing that drill again. A few days later the pain faded I haven’t felt it since.

This year, as you get close to the Oireachtas make sure you don’t push yourself so hard that you end up injured and unable to compete. The body can take a lot physically and your TCRG is going to work your muscles hard, but only you know what your limits are. No competition is worth a serious injury. I’ve heard stories of Irish dancers competing with injuries and still placing, but just think of how much better they would have done if they’d taken the breaks they needed and had the opportunity to compete at full strength.

I’d like to wish everyone good luck at the Oireachtas this month! Work hard and take the breaks you need so you have the chance to truly do your best when you get on stage. And don’t forget to have fun! That’s what Irish dance is all about.

Article written by Shelly Hathaway
Photo by Shelly Hathaway Photography