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Rule #1: Don’t call it Riverdancing. Five other things to know about Irish dance:

The four basic step dances—reel, jig, slip jig and hornpipe—have hundreds of variations.

Hard shoes (sometimes called “heavies”) have fiberglass tips and heels for showcasing rhythmic footwork. Lace-up soft shoes, “ghillies,” are worn by women in dances that emphasize jumps.

Elaborate “solo” dresses for a feis (competition) weigh as much as twenty pounds and cost upwards of $1,000. Banana-curled wigs and glued-in-place knee socks are also de rigueur.

Some dance historians believe the custom of keeping arms firmly at the sides developed after the church banned arm movements for being too provocative.

Ready to try? Ceili dancing—a fun, social style of Irish group dancing—will put a spring in your step.

—Nicole Maranhas

Pictured: Shelby Mahoney, a student at Kelly School of Irish Dance in Providence, practices her steps.

Photography by Ron Cowie