Here are some meanings and pronunciations of some Irish dance terms. Put up for your benefit; you'll never suffer from the embarrassment of saying fice instead of fesh(feis).
feis (FESH)- a festival of competition, featuring music, dance, and art.
Feisanna (fesh-AH-nuh)- plural of feis.
Feile (FAY-luh)- a pure Irish step competition- no other varieties of competition.
Oireachtas (or-ROK-tuhs)- Regional or national Irish step dancing competitions.
Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (Or-ROK-tuhs RIN-kuh na KREEN-yuh)- the World championships of Irish dancing. Held yearly, you must place highly in the Oireachtas to qualify for the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne.
Ghillies (GIL-ees)- soft, black leather shoes with criss-crossed laces. Used to perform reels, light jigs, slip jigs, single jigs, and most figure dances. Also called soft shoes or pumps.
Hard Shoes- Black leather shoes with fiberglass heels and taps onthe toes. Used to perform hard or double jigs, hornpipes, traditional set dances, and, in exhibitions and competitions only, treble reels. Also called jig shoes, heavy shoes.
