Sean-nós dance

Sean-nós dance is an older style of traditional solo Irish dance

Irish dance

Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing...

. It is a casual dance form (as opposed to the more formal competition-oriented form of) Irish Stepdancing.
"Sean Nós

Sean Nós

Sean Nós refers to "old style" Irish song and dance, which are discussed under:* Sean-nós song, Irish traditional song.* Sean-nós dance, Irish traditional dance.* Sean-nós dance in America, Irish traditional singing and dancing in the "old style" in America...

" in the Irish language

Irish language

Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...

means "old style" and refers to various activities, including sean-nós song

Sean-nós song

Sean-nós is a highly ornamented style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing. It is a sean-nós activity, which also includes sean-nós dancing...

and sean-nós dance. These less common forms of Irish dance

Irish dance

and traditional Irish singing

Traditional Irish singing

Traditional Irish singing is the singing of traditional songs in the native styles such as sean nós. Though some people consider sean nós to particularly refer to singing in the Irish language, the term 'traditional singing' is more universally understood to encompass singing in any language, as...

have been documented by folklorists

Folkloristics

Folkloristics is the formal academic study of folklore. The term derives from a nineteenth century German designation of folkloristik to distinguish between folklore as the content and folkloristics as its study, much as language is distinguished from linguistics...

and song collectors (AKA ethnomusicologists

Ethnomusicology

Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...

), but still often form part of the traditional dance scene in Ireland.

Irish traditional dance

The most widely-known form of traditional Irish dance

Irish dance

is competition-oriented Stepdance

Irish stepdance

Irish stepdance is a type of performance dance originated in Ireland from traditional Irish dance, characterised by solo dancers who dance with hands by their sides and upper body stiff, making quick, intricate movements of the feet, often with a troupe. Irish stepdancing was popularized by the...

. Other popular forms of Irish dancing are for couples and group social dancing, such as Set Dance

Set dance

Set dancing, sometimes called "country sets", are a popular form of folk dancing in Ireland. Set dances are based on quadrilles. The latter were court dances which were transformed by the Irish into a unique folk dance of the Irish rural communities...

and the casual dancing at a gathering called a Céili (AKA Céilidh

Céilidh

In modern usage, a céilidh or ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland, but is now common throughout the Irish and Scottish diasporas...

). A specialized form of dance is the Brush Dance (AKA Broom Dance). Less known is the traditional freeform solo type called sean nós

Sean Nós

or "old style" dance.

Sean-nós dance is characterized by its "low to the ground" footwork, improvised steps, free movement of the arms, and an emphasis upon a "battering step" (which sounds out more loudly the accented beat of the music). By its nature, it follows the music closely. It is traditionally a solo dance form. Because sean-nós dancing is improvisational, it is not necessary for a pre-arranged routine or choreography to be decided upon by the dancer. Spontaneous expression is highly valued. Therefore, it is less common to see groups performing synchronized sean-nós dance (which requires choreography in advance). Instead, the dancers may dance in turns, playing off the energy of the other.

Difference between sean-nós dance and Irish Stepdance

Sean-nós dancing is similar to the more formal, competition oriented Irish Stepdance

Irish stepdance

, but is more freeform in its expression. Stepdancing is recognizable by its stylized dance clothing, high kicks, and arms kept rigidly to the side. The dancer's face is supposed to be composed and expressionless. In comparison, the sean-nós dancers generally wear street clothing and their arms usually move with the natural rhythm of the dance or are kept loosely at their side. Some dancers incorporate large arm movements in their dance. Personal style is highly valued in sean-nós dancing.

Competition oriented Irish Stepdancing can be danced with a soft or a hard shoe, depending on the type of dance. Sean-nós dancing is done with any available street shoe that is to the liking of the individual dancer. The sound of a sean-nós dancer's footwork has a rhythmic quality. Many dancers prefer a shoe that is capable of percussive sound.

Traditional sean-nós dance surfaces include a standard wooden dance floor, a door that has been taken off the hinges, a table, a barrel, or even the top of a stool. In those cases, the skill of the dancer is shown by how well s/he can produce the various steps within the narrow bounds of the dance surface.

Folk Music & Dances of Ireland, Brendan Breathnach writes: "The good dancer danced, as it were underneath himself, trapping each note of music on the floor, and the use of the half-door and table for solo performances indicates the limited area in which he was expected to perform."

"They used to say, `A good dancer could dance on a silver tray, and a really excellent dancer could dance on a sixpence.' Now, any modern Irish dancer would fill the whole stage." But, why compare the two? After all, says Patrick O'Dea, they are two entirely different dances - one, a traditional "old style" of step dancing, and the second, a newer and less traditional outgrowth or variation.

Controversy over what authentic sean-nós dance comprises

The roots of this form of dancing pre-date modern records. Differences in sean-nós dance between different regions of Ireland exist, so there is no singular definitive standard.

Sean-Nós Dance: This is an old style traditional form of dancing that originated in the Connemara region (west coast of Ireland). This is a low to ground stepping out to the music, very relaxed, similar to tap dance, but it is not the stage show event like the Step Dancing you see in productions of Riverdance. Sean-nós dancing is a very impromptu, rhythmic, and low key accompaniment to a lively traditional Irish band. The footwork "battering" is great fun to watch and listen to. These are typically done as a solo performer or in very small groups and are well suited to all ages. (oftentimes the best sean-nós dancers, are the old timers in the dark corners of the pub).

Sean-nós dancing in the Irish Diaspora

As the Irish peoples emigrated, they took sean-nós dance with them. This form of dance has influenced various other forms of traditional solo dance extant around the world , e.g. Tap Dance

Tap dance

Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...

or American traditional informal freeform solo folk dancing

American traditional informal freeform solo folk dancing

American traditional informal freeform solo folk dancing is a form of dance oriented to spontaneous individual dancing, where self-expression and creativity are expected.- Contrasts of American traditional dance styles :...

. Sean-nós dance in America

Sean-nós dance in America

Sean-nós dance in America has its roots in Irish culture, but may be practiced differently from how it is danced in Ireland. When Irish people emigrated to America in great numbers during the early American Colonial period, or when escaping troubles in Ireland, they brought their dance culture with...

may differ from how it is practiced in Ireland, because it in turn has been influenced by other culture's dance styles there. Sean-nós dancing in America and Canada is most commonly seen at folk festivals and informal Irish music sessions, possibly mixed in with casual Irish Stepdancing and other regional styles. However, some dance workshops in America are beginning to introduce the style more widely.

Minimalist means of preserving Irish music and dance

The practice of sean-nós dance, sean-nós song

Sean-nós song

Sean-nós is a highly ornamented style of unaccompanied traditional Irish singing. It is a sean-nós activity, which also includes sean-nós dancing...

, Lilting

Lilting

Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland and Scotland. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as "mouth music", diddling, jigging, chin music or cheek music), puirt a beul in Scottish Gaelic, Canterach, or portaireacht bhéil in Irish...

(AKA "mouth music"), and "the bones"

Bones (instrument)

The bones are a musical instrument which, at the simplest, consists of a pair of animal bones, or pieces of wood or a similar material. Sections of large rib bones and lower leg bones are the most commonly used true bones, although wooden sticks shaped like the earlier true bones are now more...

(a simple percussion instrument convenient to carry in a pocket) represented a minimalist means of preserving musical and dance heritage; one which anyone could take part in with a minimum of experience and expenditure but which had the possibility for developing considerable levels of skill with further practice. .

Irish traditional dance

Sean-nós dance

Difference between sean-nós dance and Irish Stepdance

Controversy over what authentic sean-nós dance comprises

Sean-nós dancing in the Irish Diaspora

Minimalist means of preserving Irish music and dance

See also