Why do the Irish keep their arms down to their sides while step dancing? One theory is when the English overcame Ireland, they outlawed their dance. But soldiers passing by a window could only see their upper body. Therefore, if someone was dancing inside with arms down, it wouldn’t be recognized as a dance. To watch Riverdancing, click on
Ceili (pronounced “kay-lee) is traditional Irish dance. Originating in the 1500’s, it consists of quadrilles, reels, jigs and long or round dances. These were the native Irish folk dances. Like the Riverdance, the Ceili dancers keep their upper body stiff while their feet dance to fast music. To watch a Ceili dance, click on
Theresa Wise Author 