How to Make an Irish Stepdance Costume

Stepdance dresses are short to display legs and footwork.

Irish stepdance captured worldwide attention with the popular "Riverdance" shows in the mid-1990s. Traditional Irish stepdance competition dresses are called solo dresses, decorated with elaborate embroidery in Celtic patterns. When dancers perform together as a group, they wear team dresses, which are simpler. To make a costume for a school dance show or theme party, you will need a few basic items to create the right look.

Things You'll Need

• Plain green dress
• Green skirt and top (optional)
• Colored felt
• Gold braid
• Fabric glue
• Dark pantyhose
• Long white socks (optional)
• Plain black shoes
• Black ballet shoes

Instructions

1. Wear a plain green dress or skirt and top as a base for the costume. Green is a traditional choice of color for an Irish dress. White or orange are also popular. The sleeves should be long and the skirt should flare out to allow freedom of movement.

2. Draw a design onto colored felt in a contrasting color and use scissors or a craft knife to cut out the shapes to add Celtic designs to the dress. Celtic crosses, knots and symbols from nature are popular.

3. Glue the felt shapes onto the dress in symmetrical patterns using fabric glue. Add gold braid as a trim at the hem and neckline of the dress, gluing it in place with fabric glue.

4. Wear dark pantyhose or long white socks. Irish dancers traditionally wear their dresses 2 inches above the knee, but the dress can be shorter for a costume to allow for the visibility of the legs and footwork.

5. Complete the look with a pair of plain black shoes to look like hard jig shoes, or black ballet shoes to look like soft reel shoes.

References

• Earthly Delights: How To Make Your Own Irish Dance Costume
• Irelands Eye: Irish Dance/Costumes
• Think Quest: Irish Dance Dresses