How to Do the Irish Variation in Tap Dancing

The basic Irish step in tap dancing involves a shuffle, a hop and then a step. The Irish can be a front or a back Irish, depending on where the dancer steps--to the front or to the back-and the step can travel. The Irish can involve crossing the feet or moving to the side. In the Irish variation, the dancer is going to add another element: She is going to do a toe jab to the back. The "Irish" was first introduced in this country by dancer Daniel Decatur Emmett in his minstrel show act in the 1880s. The Irish is a compilation of clog dancing, the Irish jig and reel dances and dance movements borrowed from African-American dancers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tap shoes

1. Shuffle on your right foot on the count of "and a" and follow that with a step on your right foot on the count of "1."

2. Repeat all of the above (shuffle step) on the left foot on the count of "and a 2."
   To execute a shuffle, lift your shuffling foot, bend your leg at the knee, point your foot to the back and brush to the front, and then to the back, on the ball of your foot. When you step down, put your weight on your foot.

3. Shuffle on your right foot on the count of "and 1." Hop on your left foot on the count of 3." Your right foot is still in the air.

4. Jab your right foot behind your left foot on the count of "a."

5. Hop on your left foot on the count of "a" and then step down on your right foot on the count of "4."

6. Repeat the combination starting on your left foot: Shuffle step, shuffle step, shuffle hop, toe jab, hop, step.

Tips & Warnings

• When the dancer hears the count "and a 1" "and a 2" she is making three taps (shuf-fle step) on one beat of music. Watch Dani Rhodes execute a shuffle hop in the dance video found in the Resources section. Dancer Emily Larew shows you how to do a basic Irish step, which consists of a shuffle hop step.

Resources

• Tap Dancing Demo by Dani Rhodes
• Tap Dancing Demo by Emily Larew