Hardshoe: Where to buy 'em, when you'll learn

We will start very introductory "drop-in" hardshoe classes on Tuesday February 9, from 5:30-6:30. We will take a one-week break (I'll be in Ireland February 16), and I hope we'll resume Tuesday February 23. More details on my absence and trip to Ireland to come.

Official traditional hardshoe classes will begin Tuesday March 23, from 5:30-6:30pm. The more students, the less the cost per person (base rate is $10 per class, per person). We'll do this class in a 6 week session, lasting from March 23 through the last Tuesday of April.

If you want to learn hardshoe, you will want to start looking at prices/brands/ordering information. Below you'll find a list of information about different shoemakers. Please ask me if you have further questions!


Some websites I would check out are:
http://www.corrsirishshoes.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=8

The Corrs website has an "Eco-Hardshoe" which costs less than shoes that many competitive Irish dancers wear. I'm picky about my shoes and need them to be able to do certain things for competitive dancing, but if you are looking for something that makes good sound, and you're not worried about specs like "super-flexi" or "flexi" and "champion toes" (oh, the silliness of it all!), then I would go with the Eco-hardshoe.

http://www.fayshoes.com/products_shoes.htm
Fay's Shoes has four hardshoes to choose from. The cheapest shoe is $120.

http://www.antoniopacelli.com/irish_dance/shoes/
Antonio Pacelli carries a number of shoes (some made by other designers), and also a "budget" shoe. I used to wear Pacelli's. I like them.

http://www.rutherfordshoes.com/productSectionOverview.asp?station=1&section=7
I swear by Rutherfords! Rutherford Shoes carries three types of hardshoes (or jig shoes, as they're sometimes called). The Inishfree Beginner hardshoe is affordable, although I would advise against it since it offers no support, and uncomfortable, inflexible sole, and low-quality tips and heels. My Rutherford shoes sound like a Starbucks order: super black suede sole flexi, extra wide, with standard straps, sandblast tips and heels, and squared-off toes. Hold the whip!

Good luck finding shoes! Another way to go is to use the sizing charts on the websites above to find your size, then checking eBay, Amazon, or other Irish dance sites for used shoes.

Welcome back to dance!

Welcome to the blog, dancers! I hope that you find this helpful and that it leads to more enjoyable dance classes, pub outings etc. This is our class "information central," and I'll try to include class announcements, YouTube videos, information about dance shoes and attire, etc. on this site.

First, here are videos that show you the High-Cauled Cap that we've been learning in class.

This first link is to a video from Olive Hurley's Complete Ceili instructional video series. Olive Hurley is one of the most respected and recognizable teachers, partly because of her use of video to spread Irish dancing. This is Scoil Rince Ni Chearra O Baolain dancing the High-Cauled Cap (all 10 minutes of it!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJcSjGYF8g

This next link is from the North American Nationals in 2007, where some teachers got up on stage and did the High-Cauled Cap for fun. You'll notice that after the top couple performs the First Figure, the dancers repeat the lead-around. I believe they did this for fun, since it's not how the dance is normally performed. Oh well! They look like they had a blast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7IPILMkiM


I'm still searching for a good video of the Humours of Bandon. Having trouble finding one. I'll post when I do.


Happy viewing!