From early childhood through adolescence, dance held a central place in my life. Inspired by my mother’s background as a ballerina, I began dance classes at the age of five, and my passion blossomed. My dance school offered a variety of styles, but I, along with a group of enduring friends, focused on jazz and tap. While jazz presented challenges due to my limited flexibility, tap dance captivated me. I dedicated myself to practicing, my feet finding rhythms on every hard surface, much to my mother’s dismay as her hardwood floors bore the brunt of my enthusiasm.
Years later, as a student at Haverford College, I attended a campus dance concert. It was a vibrant display featuring ballet, hip hop, jazz, and tap. While enjoying the familiar energy of the tap performances, another style caught my eye: Irish step dance. Watching the dancers move with locked arms, precise footwork, and captivating circular formations, a question arose: What exactly differentiates tap from Irish step dance?
Further exploration revealed the deep historical roots of Irish Step Dance, tracing back to as early as 400 BCE. Even as pagan traditions gave way to Christianity, dance and music remained vital in Celtic culture through syncretism. By the eighteenth century, despite Norman influences, “dance masters” preserved and passed down dance traditions, fostering high standards and celebrating soloists. Step dance as we recognize it today emerged in this late eighteenth-century environment. The global success of shows like Riverdance has since cemented Irish step dance’s worldwide appeal and ensured its continued evolution (IrelandsEye).
Tap dance, conversely, is an American art form, born from a fusion of diverse percussive dance styles. Its origins lie in “several ethnic percussive dances, primarily African tribal dances and Scottish, Irish, and English clog dances, hornpipes, and jigs” (Britannica 1). Tap dance, in essence, embodies a unifying rhythm, drawing inspiration partly from Irish step dance, which accounts for their apparent similarities. While the exact genesis of tap dance is debated, it’s largely believed to have developed in urban melting pots like New York’s Five Points District, where various cultural groups mingled and blended their dance forms to create something entirely new (Britannica 1).
The primary distinctions between tap and Irish step dance lie in body usage and footwork. Tap dance encourages full-body syncopation, inviting the dancer’s entire being to engage with the rhythm. In contrast, Irish step dance emphasizes rigidity, particularly in the upper body. Straight lines and stillness in the arms and torso are key characteristics of the jig. Tap dance also tends to utilize space more expansively, while Irish step dance often involves specific patterns that propel dancers across the stage in a more contained manner.
Costuming further distinguishes Irish step dance. Unlike tap, which has no strict dress code beyond specialized shoes, Irish step dance, especially in performance, mandates specific attire. Deeply rooted in Irish tradition and culture, Irish step dance costumes often evoke historical clothing styles, reminiscent of garments from two centuries past, including dresses, kilts, and jackets (Ireland’s Eye). This connection to tradition suggests that Irish step dance, bearing these markers of cultural heritage, tends to be more formally regulated than tap dance, reinforcing its role in embodying Celtic culture.
Both tap and Irish step dance have achieved global popularity in recent times. For example, in 2014, an Irish step dance group garnered international acclaim with their performance on Britain’s Got Talent.
Similarly, the Syncopated Ladies, a tap dance group, gained national recognition for their dynamic tap performance to Beyoncé’s “Formation” and their subsequent dance response to the election of President Donald Trump.
In conclusion, while tap and Irish step dance share percussive footwork and rhythmic complexity, each form retains distinct traditions, aesthetics, and movements that highlight their individual beauty. Both styles offer dancers and audiences a profound appreciation for the diverse world of Step And Dance.
Works Cited
Frank, Rusty. “Tap Dance.” Dance Forms. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.
“The History of Irish Dance.” Ireland’s Eye. Ireland’s Eye, 1994-2004. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.
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