Set Dance Styles

Few in set dancing refer to, or even have terms for, the different sub-styles of set dancing.  But for the beginner it may be confusing why, although we describe it here as a “social activity,” some groups of set dancers wear costumes and dance like well-trained Olympic athletes.  This is because in Ireland, there are set dancing competitions, which over the years has resulted in a distinct “competition” style as opposed to the more widespread “social" style (note that these are not universally accepted terms but are only the terms we choose to use here for clarity).  Click on the links below to go to YouTube playlists we have compiled of the best examples we have found of set dancing.

“Social” style.  This is the term we use to here to refer to the style of people dancing socially.  Although there is a general style to set dancing that is non-negotiable (a particular body carridge, weight placement etc.), within that framework the door is open to individuality, creativity, and extemporaneous footwork and other flourishes.  A note on the ladies:  when looking at the video clips, note that the footwork of the ladies has undergone change over the years.  Today, ladies steps tend to be similar or identical to gents, including the “battering” (that’s the “tapping” sounds made with the heels, toes or whole foot).

“Competition” style.  These dancers emphasize uniformity and precision in addition to the necessary athleticism of competitive dance.  The footwork and sometimes the moves of the dance are adjusted to appeal to judges.  There is no “messing about” or extemporaneous flashy footwork as there is in “social” dancers.  Everyone in the set does the same step the same way at the same time.  Today, the dancers may or may not be social set dancers themselves. 

The inevitable “grey area.”  As you look at the video clips of competition style, note that the older the clip is, the more it looks like today’s “social” style.  The competitions grew out of the set dancing revival in the 1970’s and 1980’s, so early competitors all began as social dancers.  As the competitions evolved, the emphasis has changed, just as all things do with time.  In addition, some social dancers were in turn influenced by the prowess of the competitive groups, and dances and dance moves that were born in the competition circle were adopted by some social dancers.  Today, there are also many groups who perform set dancing for audiences but are social dancers and not competitors.  Although these groups may wear costumes and may have “polished up” their performance in terms of timing, etc., there is still a variety in their personal style that causes us here to place them on the “social” side of the line.  Experienced dancers may disagree.

Have corrections?  We are not involved in competitions ourselves so these are only the observation we have picked up from the “social” side.  If anyone has additions or corrections (especially if you have observations of the junior competitions versus the senior competitions), we would be very interested in hearing them.