Irish Dance Resources

Irish dance has found a huge number of followers in recent years.
For those of you wishing to find out a little more about this fulfilling activity we have provided a short insight into the history of Irish dancing.
This section is destined to grow as time goes on, so be sure to check back regularly to see what's happening.

Ancient History of Irish Dancing
Popularised in recent years by stage shows like 'Lord of the Dance' and Riverdance, the history of Irish dancing, or Celtic Dancing as it is sometimes called, can be traced back over two thousand years to a time shortly after the Celts first colonised Ireland.
We have provided a brief glimpse into an art which has survived to the present day despite Viking raids and suppression by the English for many years.
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Modern History of Irish Dancing
The formation of the Gaelic League in 1893 and later the Irish Dancing Commission in 1929 saw a revival of traditions long suppressed by Ireland's English ruling classes and the church.
Between this time and the explosion of the hit show Riverdance onto the world stage in 1995, the art experienced a steady growth in its native Ireland and wherever the Irish settled around the globe. It was however, the aforementioned stage show which caused the dramatic increase in Irish Dance's popularity on a worldwide scale.
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Irish Dances in their various forms
There is far more to Irish dances than the stage shows usually associated with the art.
Indeed, there are a number of distinct variations running along a general theme, with some facets even branded as lacking traditionalism by some purists.
We've given a very brief outline of the main styles and touched upon some of the musical instruments used to accompany Irish dancers.
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Irish Dance Shoes have changed somewhat over the last century

Since the advent of soft-soled shoes for female dancers during the early part of the 1920s, Irish Dance Shoes have undergone a number of changes in styles and the materials used to produce their distinctive sound.
Today, we at Broga Rince take great pride in providing you with the very finest quality dance footwear at highly competitive prices.
To view our range of Irish Dance Shoes, please click here.