How to dance an irish jig video
Florida Woman Tries to Beat Drunk Driving Test by Irish Folk Dancing: Video
U.S.
By Shira Li Bartov
U.S. Drunk driving DUI Dancing Florida
A woman's bid to beat her DUI test with flamboyant dances did not fly with sheriff's deputies, body camera footage revealed.
Amy Harrington, 38, was stopped after she rear-ended another vehicle near her home in Madeira Beach, Florida, on April 27. Newly released body camera video showed her attempt at getting around the sobriety test administered by Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies.
Officers arrived to find Harrington using "slurred speech" and emitting the "distinct odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage," according to an arrest report obtained by Newsweek. She was "almost falling" from impaired balance.
"[Harrington] would dance during the walk and turn and one leg stand, doing multiple ballet and Irish folk dance moves," said the report.
Video captured the woman taking three steps along the straight line test before she abruptly gave up and broke out in an unsteady dance. She proceeded to twirl away from the line altogether, swinging her arms and hopping in circles in front of a deputy.
When the deputy started giving instructions for a one-leg stand test, Harrington moaned, "Oh my god, you sound like my f**king ballet coach."
She then demonstrated what looked like an attempt at ballet dancing.
"Do you want to pay attention so I can give you the instructions?" the deputy asked.
"Yeah, well, you sound like my ballet coach, so, sounds about right," Harrington repeated.
Throughout the tests, Harrington exhibited "multiple ranges of emotion to include crying, anger and apologetic," deputies reported. Her prancing continued until she was eventually handcuffed and arrested for driving under the influence.
The woman later refused to submit to testing of her breath, urine or blood, marking the second time she refused testing after a separate incident in March 2019, according to the arrest affidavit.
In the center cup holder of Harrington's car, deputies said they found a white foam cup containing a "light yellow liquid with an orange" that was confirmed to be alcohol.
Florida is the third-worst state in the U.S. for drunk driving, surpassed only by Texas and California, according to a study from financial company Bankrate. Collectively, those three states account for nearly 30 percent of the country's total alcohol-related driving fatalities between 2008 and 2019.
Alcohol-impaired traffic incidents killed 11,654 Americans in 2020, up 14 percent from 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Last year, as part of President Joe Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure package, Congress mandated that automakers implement technology to prevent DUI deaths.
Request Reprint & Licensing, Submit Correction or view Editorial Guidelines
Can You Do a Jig?
ARTS & CULTURE — Dance
Have You Ever Wondered...
- Can you do a jig?
- Why is it called a jig?
- Can you make up your own homemade jig?
Tags:
See All Tags
- choregrapher,
- clog,
- cultures of the world,
- dance,
- exercise,
- feet,
- fiddle,
- folk,
- footwork,
- France,
- giga,
- giguer,
- Great Britain,
- improv,
- improvisation,
- Ireland,
- Irish,
- jig,
- leg,
- movement,
- music,
- Riverdance,
- Spain,
- step,
- stomp,
- tradition
Do you have the luck of the Irish? If not, that's OK.
You can still dance like them. What are we talking about? The jig, of course!
The jig is a joyful, lively dance traditionally performed by large groups of people at Irish celebrations. The word “jig" is of uncertain origin. Some believe it comes from the French word giguer, which means “to jump." Others believe it comes from the Italian word giga, which refers to a folk dance to a short piece of music.
Any time the Irish gather together in large groups with music, a party atmosphere is likely to break out. Queue up some lively Irish music and it won't be long before people are doing a jig. Jigs are characterized by lots of quick leg movements and heel stomping.
The jig has a long history. Some historians believe it began as a popular folk dance as far back as the 1500s. The earliest forms of the jig were probably performed to fiddle music. Early jig dancers would keep their upper body very rigid in order to allow those watching to concentrate on the quick, intricate footwork.
The fast footwork involved in the jig has led to the development of many other types of “step" dances throughout Ireland. Jig and Irish step dance competitions became popular and helped spread the jig to other countries, including Great Britain, France, and Spain.
Doing a jig will definitely give you a workout. Jigs are usually accompanied by fast-paced music. In addition, many jig competitions encourage dancers to improvise their own dance moves. The dancer who can outlast all the others is often crowned the champion.
The Irish jig has inspired similar dances in many countries around the world. For example, in the United States, clog dancing traces its roots back to the jig and other Irish folk dances.
Wonder What's Next?
Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day may blow you over!
Try It Out
Ready to dance a jig? Well, what are you waiting for? Get dancing! Find a dance partner or two and check out one of more of the following activities:
Follow the step-by-step instructions and give it a try. Make sure you find some lively Irish music to accompany your dance steps.- Before you try to dance a jig yourself, it might help to watch a few videos online to get the hang of what it's all about. Here are a few videos you might enjoy:
- Jig
- Irish Jig
- Slip Jig
Did you get it?
Test your knowledgeWonder Words
- jig
- clog
- outlast
- joyful
- lively
- rigid
- footwork
- traditionally
- fiddle
- improvise
- inspire
- unique
- queue
- choreographer
- uncertain
- origin
- atmosphere
- intricate
- characterize
Take the Wonder Word Challenge
Rate this wonder
Share this wonder
×GET YOUR WONDER DAILY
Subscribe to Wonderopolis and receive the Wonder of the Day® via email or SMS
Join the Buzz
Don’t miss our special deals, gifts and promotions.
Be the first to know!
Share with the World
Tell everybody about Wonderopolis and its wonders.
Share Wonderopolis
Wonderopolis Widget
Interested in sharing Wonderopolis® every day? Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together.
Add widget
You Got It!
Continue
Not Quite!
Try Again
Ah, I have no better joy! Let's dance a jig! Online publication "Elements of Dance"
Jigs on the bar and on the tables
Only folk dance can be so expressive and expressive. Ireland is associated all over the world with red-haired beauties, St. Patrick's Day, bright green quatrefoil and, of course, tart ale.
Local pubs have always been a place of fun and mischief, which is impossible to imagine without playing a jig.
Moreover, any, even the most insignificant, piece of free space, including a table and a bar counter, is suitable for this. nine0007
This ancient dance owes its name to the name of the traditional Irish fiddle, which was used to entertain fairground people in the Middle Ages (the first written records date back to the 11th century). Later, the jig began to be performed during fesh (feis - a peasant party with music and dancing).
According to one version, the word is of French origin - gigue, or "gigue", according to another - Italian (read as "giga"). Also, the word "jiga" refers to the music that accompanies the dance. It was she, fast, bright, spectacular, that made people start dancing. nine0007
At first, the jig was performed in pairs, however, sailors, pub regulars, picked up a colorful dance and turned it into a solo one. In Shakespeare's time, the jig was performed in a clownish manner at the end of a theatrical production. And then...
Then came the eradication of Irish culture.
With the beginning of the colonization of Ireland by England, national dances and music became prohibited. From the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century, teaching the traditional arts was severely punished.
The culture was preserved thanks to the efforts of itinerant teachers, who became the forerunners of dance education. Masters moved from one village to another, stopping to stay in one of the peasant houses. The classes were massive: students of different ages came to them and mastered the original Irish dance skills. It was thanks to wandering dancers that the forms of jigs known to us today developed. nine0007
In the late 18th and early 19th century, the first "stationary" dance schools began to appear illegally. At the same time, the first competitions arose: teachers competed with each other, demonstrating skills polished over the years. Soon, the students also showed interest in dance tournaments, and then the “pie” competitions arose. This culinary creation was in the center of the dance floor on a special table.
It got to the winner.
At the end of the 19th century, the Gaelic League took shape, the main task of which was to standardize and formalize Irish dances, music, and literature. The members of the league carefully studied the numerous varieties of jigs, reels, and other dances, and zealously followed the observance of certain canons in them. nine0007
In 1930 a special committee was organized - the Irish Dance Commission, or An coimisiun le rinci Gaelacha. Its competence is the regulation of all issues related to the preservation, development and dissemination of Irish dances, as well as the organization of competitions.
Such a different jig!
Common to all varieties of jigs is a high speed of movement of the legs and a completely static upper body. Shoes for performance can be soft (for women - leather ballet flats with laces, for men - shoes with small heels and soft soles) or hard (leather shoes with a heel on the toe, an additional fastening strap and a small heel).
nine0007
Light jig is the fastest type of this dance. It is performed in 6/8 time with a rhythmic pattern of three levels of difficulty - beginner, primer and intermediate. Dancing in soft shoes. Steps (steps) are very fast and can vary greatly from school to school.
Single jig, or hop jig in other words, has a size of 12/8. For it, as well as for a light jig, soft shoes are required. This is one of the simplest forms of Irish dance and is most widespread in Europe. It is with single jigs that they begin training in dance schools. nine0007
Slip (sliding) jig is performed in 9/8 time signature with emphasis on the first beat. Sometimes this variety is called Irish ballet because of the performance on high "half-toes" of legs shod in soft shoes. Graceful movements, as it were, lift the dancer above the platform, giving the effect of light soaring. However, the lightness is only visible: slip jig is one of the most difficult types of Irish dance.
Double jig - male dance.
In every movement - the spirit of a warrior, the nature of the dance - assertive, warlike, the choreography pattern is linear, the accents are in the beating of the rhythm. It can be performed in both soft shoes and hard shoes. Has a faster beat than the single jig. nine0007
A 6/8 treble jig with a strong beat on the count of three. Unlike other varieties, this one is performed in hard shoes. Slow pace, many pirouettes, swings, jumps are the main features of the treble jig. The traditional performance is 92 beats per minute (usually chosen by beginners). Experienced and skilled dancers prefer a slow triple jig with 73 beats per minute.
By the way, at almost all festivals of Irish culture they perform exactly the treble jig, which is complex both in rhythmic pattern and in performance technique. nine0007
The hornpipe, like the treble jig, is played in hard shoes and has a complex rhythmic syncopated pattern. A distinctive feature is the size 4/4.
A set is a dance performed to music of a certain size (for example, a hornpipe or a treble jig).
The traditional set has different difficulty levels.
Irish jig has long gone beyond the alma mater. Today it is danced in Europe, the USA and Russia. They say that to see yourself dancing a jig in a dream is a harbinger of fun and many pleasures. Because this dynamic, cheerful and beautiful dance gives truly vivid emotions. nine0007
Irish dance lessons for beginners: simple movements. Encyclopedia of Dance: Jiga Jiga dance training
Initially, a small violin was called a jiga, which was used to accompany the dancers. Back in the 12th century, the jig was a pair dance, but among sailors it became a solo dance, and with comic overtones. For example, William Shakespeare in his plays emphasized the comical nature of the jig.
The jig has migrated to melodies of Irish origin. Today, the jig is found in various types of Irish dances. Jig is presented in various versions. nine0007
1. Single jig
One of the simplest melodies danced in 6/8 or 12/8 time.
This type of jig is very popular in Europe, but they do not like to perform it in the USA. Such a jig is performed by beginners in dancing and those who continue to learn, dance it in soft shoes.
2. Double-jig
It is performed both in soft and hard shoes, always with the beating of the rhythm. If performed in hard shoes, then in time 6/8 and then it is called a heavy jig.
This is the slowest type of jig. It is characterized by pirouettes, swings and jumps. Beginners dance the treble jig at 92 beats per minute, but the pros dance at 73 beats.
4. Sliding jig
Also called slip jig. Performed in 9/8 bars. Because of the slower phrases, the melody is also slower. This type of dance is performed on very high toes and is therefore called Irish ballet. This jig is often performed by women. She is a very graceful and airy dance.
nine0007
We all remember Johnny Depp's wonderful dance of the Hatter's jig-jump from the movie "Through the Looking-Glass". In fact, the jig is the national dance of the British and Irish, the movements of which are quite complex and require intensive and constant training. Jiga is very incendiary, it charges with its mood and manner of performance.
Ireland is an unusual and mysterious country, the unique charm of which is given by evergreen hills, ancient castles, and of course amazing dances. National dances are performed only to Irish music and look very beautiful and spectacular, thanks to the speed of movement and rhythm. Currently, this dance direction is extremely popular in many countries. There are many schools and studios that teach jig, reel or hornpipe, but you can learn how to dance Irish dances on your own. Depending on the technique of performance and the number of participants, the following varieties are distinguished:
- Solo, represents rhythmic and clear movements of the legs, while the body and arms are motionless, one person is dancing.
- Group, performed by a group of up to 16 people, and include elements of solo dances with rebuilding in a circle, line or column and the inclusion of hands.
- Folk or social, characterized by simple quadrille-like movements, danced in pairs.
For those who decide to learn how to dance Irish dances on their own, video lessons for beginners will be an excellent tool. It is better to start with a solo direction, which includes: jig, reel, hornpipe and solo sets. nine0007
Jiga
Performed to the music of the violin. Fun and cheerful jig, consists of traditional jumps and special steps. The jumps are quite high, which makes a lasting impression, but at the initial stage, you should not jump high. First you need to learn how to properly hold the body and press your hands, and most importantly, land softly. Dynamic and spectacular Irish dances can be a serious challenge for beginners.
Reel
Reel is believed to be of Scottish origin, but has been heavily modified to include true Irish elements.
Great for beginners and is usually the starting point for learning how to dance Irish dance properly. May be fast or slow. nine0007
Fast paced reels have a set of simple movements, while slow reels are characterized by a more complex set of figures, including high jumps. The technique of execution, depending on the type of footwear, can be soft or hard.
Hornpipe
Includes jumps and tap dance elements, touching the floor alternately with the heel and toe, creates a drumming effect. Hands are usually located on the belt or extended at the seams, and swings are made with a leg bent at the knee. It is performed only in hard shoes and is the most difficult to master. Somewhat similar to the reel, the hornpipe is notable for its particular dotted rhythm and emphasis on the first count. It can also be slow and fast. nine0007
Set solo dances
A distinctive feature is a special set melody, which can be traditional or author's, and differs in its structure from ordinary Irish music.
Under such melodies, unique dance compositions are developed, intended for participation in competitions, which will include complex steps and non-traditional elements. From generation to generation in Ireland, the music and steps of solo sets created in the distant past and called traditional are transmitted. nine0007
Irish dancing is not only an amazing boost of positive energy and energy, but also a great way to increase stamina and improve physical fitness. Having mastered the basic elements, you can continue to use lessons for beginners to learn Irish dances, or contact a special studio. Speed, clarity and rhythm of movements will come with regular practice.
History of the jig
Originally, the jig was a pair dance; however, among sailors it spread as a solo, very fast dance of a comic nature. William Shakespeare in his plays emphasized the buffoonish nature of the jig. Soon the jig made its way into professional music as well. Pieces under this name are found in English virginal and lute collections of the 16th century. In the 17th century, the jig entered the dance life of many countries of Western Europe, although its development proceeded differently in different countries. nine0007
At the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, the Italian jig acquired European significance. It was she who entered as the final part in the pre-classical sonatas and suites of Arcangelo Corelli, Antonio Vivaldi, JF Rameau. The finale of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, without having the designation of a jig, also reveals the inherent character of this dance.
Squeezed out of European salon life by new dances (minuet, gavotte and others), during the 18th century the jig gradually loses its significance in professional music as well. In the future, the jig was mainly used by the people, successfully preserved to this day in Ireland and Scotland. In the twentieth century, some composers again turn to the jig as a musical genre. Among them is Claude Debussy ("Images", 1912), I. F. Stravinsky (Concert Duet, 1932; septet, 1952-53), Max Reger (op.
36, 42, 131c), Arnold Schoenberg (op. 25 and 29) .
Irish dance jig
The jig is one of the most popular Irish dance tunes. Presented in several versions. Depending on the speed of the melody in which the dance is performed, single jig, double jig and treble jig are distinguished. Depending on the shoes in which the dance is performed, light and heavy jig are distinguished. The slip-jig, performed to a special rhythm, stands out as a perfect apart 9/8 and exclusively in soft shoes.
Single jig
Double jig
Treble jig
Slip-jiga is currently performed exclusively by women in competitions, but until about 1950, both men and pairs competed in this dance. Since the 1980s, there has been discussion about the return of men to competition in this dance. Slip jig, danced on 9/8, is the most graceful and graceful dance performed in soft shoes and highlighted in the Riverdance show. nine0007
The slip jig is sometimes called the slide jig or the hop jig.
But sometimes a slide jig is also called a single jig.
See also
Notes
Bar and table jigs
Only folk dance can be so expressive and expressive. Ireland is associated all over the world with red-haired beauties, St. Patrick's Day, bright green quatrefoil and, of course, tart ale.
Local pubs have always been a place of fun and mischief, which is impossible to imagine without playing a jig. Moreover, any, even the most insignificant, piece of free space, including a table and a bar counter, is suitable for this. nine0007
This ancient dance owes its name to the name of the traditional Irish fiddle, which was used to entertain fairground people in the Middle Ages (the first written records date back to the 11th century). Later, the jig began to be performed during fesh (feis - a peasant party with music and dancing).
According to one version, the word is of French origin - gigue, or "gigue", according to another - Italian (read as "giga"). Also, the word "jiga" refers to the music that accompanies the dance. It was she, fast, bright, spectacular, that made people start dancing. nine0007
At first, the jig was performed in pairs, however, sailors, pub regulars, picked up a colorful dance and turned it into a solo one. In Shakespeare's time, the jig was performed in a clownish manner at the end of a theatrical production. And then...
Then came the eradication of Irish culture. With the beginning of the colonization of Ireland by England, national dances and music became prohibited. From the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century, teaching the traditional arts was severely punished.
The culture was preserved thanks to the efforts of itinerant teachers, who became the forerunners of dance education. Masters moved from one village to another, stopping to stay in one of the peasant houses. The classes were massive: students of different ages came to them and mastered the original Irish dance skills. It was thanks to wandering dancers that the forms of jigs known to us today developed.
nine0007
In the late 18th and early 19th century, the first "stationary" dance schools began to appear illegally. At the same time, the first competitions arose: teachers competed with each other, demonstrating skills polished over the years. Soon, the students also showed interest in dance tournaments, and then the “pie” competitions arose. This culinary creation was in the center of the dance floor on a special table. It got to the winner.
At the end of the 19th century, the Gaelic League took shape, the main task of which was to standardize and formalize Irish dances, music, and literature. The members of the league carefully studied the numerous varieties of jigs, reels, and other dances, and zealously followed the observance of certain canons in them. nine0007
In 1930 a special committee was organized - the Irish Dance Commission, or An coimisiun le rinci Gaelacha. Its competence is the regulation of all issues related to the preservation, development and dissemination of Irish dances, as well as the organization of competitions.
Such a different jig!
What all types of jigs have in common is a high speed of movement of the legs and a completely static upper body. Shoes for performance can be soft (for women - leather ballet flats with laces, for men - shoes with small heels and soft soles) or hard (leather shoes with a heel on the toe, an additional fastening strap and a small heel). nine0007
Light jig is the fastest type of this dance. It is performed in 6/8 time with a rhythmic pattern of three levels of difficulty - beginner, primer and intermediate. Dancing in soft shoes. Steps (steps) are very fast and can vary greatly from school to school.
Single jig, or hop jig in other words, has a size of 12/8. For it, as well as for a light jig, soft shoes are required. This is one of the simplest forms of Irish dance and is most widespread in Europe. It is with single jigs that they begin training in dance schools. nine0007
Slip (sliding) jig is performed in 9/8 time signature with emphasis on the first beat. Sometimes this variety is called Irish ballet because of the performance on high "half-toes" of legs shod in soft shoes. Graceful movements, as it were, lift the dancer above the platform, giving the effect of light soaring. However, the lightness is only visible: slip jig is one of the most difficult types of Irish dance.
Double jig - male dance. In every movement - the spirit of a warrior, the nature of the dance - assertive, warlike, the choreography pattern is linear, the accents are in beating the rhythm. It can be performed in both soft shoes and hard shoes. Has a faster beat than the single jig. nine0007
A 6/8 treble jig with a strong beat on the count of three. Unlike other varieties, this one is performed in hard shoes. A slow pace, a lot of pirouettes, swings, jumps are the main features of the treble jig. The traditional performance is 92 beats per minute (usually chosen by beginners). Experienced and skilled dancers prefer a slow triple jig with 73 beats per minute.
By the way, at almost all festivals of Irish culture they perform exactly the treble jig, which is complex both in rhythmic pattern and in performance technique. nine0007
The hornpipe, like the treble jig, is played in hard shoes and has a complex rhythmic syncopated pattern. A distinctive feature is the size 4/4.
A set is a dance performed to music of a specific time signature (such as a hornpipe or treble jig). The traditional set has different difficulty levels.
Irish jig has long gone beyond the alma mater. Today it is danced in Europe, the USA and Russia. They say that to see yourself dancing a jig in a dream is a harbinger of fun and many pleasures. Because this dynamic, cheerful and beautiful dance gives truly vivid emotions. nine0007
The jig is an old British dance. Its origin is Celtic. The speed of the jig is fast. The jig is one of the main melodies used in Scottish and Irish dances.
The jig got its name from a musical instrument, namely, a small violin.
Melodies for dancers were played on such a violin in the 12th century. At first, the jig was a pair dance, but gradually it began to spread as a solo, and later as a solo comic dance. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Italian jig was widely developed. In the 18th century, the jig gave way to the minuet, gavotte and other increasingly popular European dances and gained a foothold among the people. nine0007
Irish dancing jig
The jig later became the basis for many Irish dances, and its melody is usually played in three versions. Depending on the speed that the dance gained, the jig was divided into single jig, double jig and treble jig.
Single jig
Single jig is one of the simplest varieties of this dance. This type is most widespread in Europe. In modern times, jig training begins with a single jig, since this type is easier to learn. nine0007
Double jig
Double jig is played at a faster pace.
