Your First Irish Dance Lesson
You may not be able to dance the Lord of the Dance finale after the first lesson but even Irish dance masters like Michael Flatley had to start somewhere...
Here are a few tips to prepare for your first Irish Dance class and for the big adventure that will come after.
1. Wear comfy clothes and sneakers
First of all, relax. You are supposed to have fun and we are here to help you. Make sure you are wearing comfortable, sporty clothes and shoes. You don't need dance shoes from the very start, so don't worry about it.
2. Sit down and take a look
Each class starts typically with soft shoe dances. As a warm-up, the teacher asks the returning students to go through a few basic sets. You don't know any dances yet, so just take a seat and enjoy the show. These are the dances that you will know within a couple of weeks. Every beginner, whatever their age, has to learn exactly the same simple reels and jigs. Beginner Irish dances will help you get acquainted with the essential Irish dance steps.
3. Get all the attention
While more advanced students focus on perfecting their assigned dance sets, the teacher will spend some time with you to show you the steps to your very first Irish Dance Easy Reel. He or she will show you how to carry out the particular steps and will go through the dance with you a couple of times.
4. Practice
Learning Irish dance is all about practice. Once the teacher sees you are getting a hang of the steps, she or he will move on to other students and leave you to practice on your own. Don't worry if it doesn't look like anything yet. That's where practice comes in.
If you forget something or have a question, don't hesitate to ask one of the other students. They will be more than happy to help, as they all surely remember what it was like in the beginning.
5. Socialize
An Irish Dance class is less structured than, for example, a fitness class. There's an opportunity to slow down for a moment and have a talk with a person next to you. Catching-up and socializing is an integral part of an Irish dance lesson. We just like each other.
If you are unsure whether to try Irish dancing, check out our dance videos for beginner (1st level) and primary (2nd level) Irish dancers.
The videos are suitable to help you practice Irish dance.
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