Irish Step Dancers Challenge Tap Dancers To Epic Dance-Off

Aug 12, 2020 by apost team

Many people wonder what the similarities and differences are between the Irish step dance and the legendary tap dance. Both dances have a cultural origin that dates back centuries. Each of the dances has an outstanding character. A brief history of each dance will give us a clearer picture of the two, and this video will show the two dances in action.

Irish step dance is a cultural dance that dates back to the early fourth century, reports Irish Central. This form of Irish dance was not left behind even after converting to Christianity. It is one of the things that gives the people of Ireland a sense of origin. The practice is passed down from one generation to another. The dance can either be performed solo or as a group.

A stiff upper body and fast, precise movements of the feet are what makes the dance so distinguished. Originally, step dance was performed by males and females. However, in the recent past, it is more commonly performed by females.

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To perform the step dance, one has to conform and show a rigid and straight body posture as well as well-coordinated foot movements. This type of dance has become well known all over the world and has helped people to appreciate Irish culture and emerging competition platforms.

Female dancers have a distinct dressing style and bright colors that make them stand out from other dancers. According to Irish Central, these different forms of dressing are one way of honoring the great dancers before them and also to impress the judges during the competition. Irish step dance has become an essential part of promoting community spirit, national identity, and cultural pride.

Tap dance is believed to have originated in the United States of America in the urban areas of New York City back in the 1800s. It started after the merging of different cultural dance moves, mainly from African tribes, Irish, Scottish and English clog dances, hornpipes, and jigs, reports the University of Michigan (UMS).

These tribes were mostly slaves and servants at the time. Through their segregation, the tribes intermingled and intermarried, thus giving birth to one of the most tremendous dances ever.

This type of dance mostly employs the use of the sound of the metal taps fixed to the heel and toe of the shoe, striking the floor as a form of percussion coupled with both natural and interpretative body movements. Tap dance has several types of styles. These include jazz, classical, broadway, and post-modern.

The most popular form of tap dance is rhythm tap. Rhythm dance produced the best tap dancers of the time. The dancers were Juba and Bill Robinson, also known as "Bojangles" in the early twentieth century, reports the UMS.

In this video, the two traditions come together when two tap dancers storm the stage. They begin by tapping energetically only to be surprised by three Riverdancers who come behind them and start their step dancing. From then a series of intense battle dances begins–Irish Central states they are also some of the most memorable in history. Each group dances with a lot of zeal and show off their amazing footwork.

Finally, in the heat of the moment, the two groups start to tap dance together whilst the audience applauds them wildly. There are a lot of similarities between these two dances. They both employ the use of feet and custom shoes during the dance. They both play a vital role in community cohesiveness and bring a sense of belonging to people. Attending these performances will give you an experience that you will never forget.

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