You’ve mastered the basics of Irish dance—your reel steps are solid, your light jig flows, and you’ve even nailed a few clicks in your hard shoes. Now what? Leveling up as an intermediate dancer requires refining technique, expanding your repertoire, and adding flair to your performances. Here’s how to push your skills further.
1. Polish Your Posture & Turnout
Intermediate dancers often plateau because of subtle posture flaws. Focus on:
- Spine alignment: Imagine a string pulling your head upward; keep shoulders relaxed but engaged.
- Turnout: Rotate from the hips (not knees!) to achieve that classic Irish dance leg position.
- Arm control: Even in traditional stiff-arm styles, practice deliberate placement to avoid "floating" arms.
Pro Tip: Record yourself dancing from the side—many posture issues are invisible in mirrors.
2. Elevate Your Treble Work
Hard shoe dancing separates intermediates from beginners. Try these drills:
Precision Over Speed
Slow down your treble jigs to ensure each toe, heel, and shuffle hits cleanly. Use a metronome at 50% performance speed.
Rhythmic Variations
Experiment with syncopation in hornpipes—shift accents to offbeats for musicality.
3. Master the "Intermediate" Dances
Move beyond basics with these key dances:
| Dance | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Slip Jig | Fluidity and elevation in jumps |
| Traditional Set | Character development (e.g., St. Patrick’s Day) |
| Non-Traditional Sets | Personal expression within structure |
4. Cross-Train for Power
Irish dance demands explosive strength. Add to your routine:
- Plyometrics: Box jumps improve elevation in leaps.
- Barre work: Ballet exercises enhance turnout and balance.
- Ankle mobility drills: Prevent injuries with resistance band exercises.
5. Perform (Even Imperfectly)
Intermediate dancers often hesitate to showcase skills. Seek opportunities:
- Local feis competitions (try a new category like solo ceili)
- Community performances (libraries, festivals)
- Social media challenges (#IntermediateIrishDance)
Feedback accelerates growth—embrace constructive criticism.
Keep the Momentum
Progress in Irish dance isn’t linear. Some days your clicks will sing; other days, your timing falters. What matters is consistent practice with intention. Now lace up those ghillies (or hard shoes) and dance like you’re one step away from advanced!
