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Irish Dance Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Irish Dance Quizzes, Trivia

Irish Dance Trivia

Irish Dance Trivia Quizzes

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If you were inspired by 'Riverdance', here's the chance to learn more about the art of Irish dancing.
8 Irish Dance quizzes and 80 Irish Dance trivia questions.
1.
  Traditional Irish Dance   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Irish dancing is one of my passions in life. In this quiz, I hope to give you some interesting facts about Irish dance, and maybe encourage you to try for yourself! (Note; This quiz is based on dancing practices in the Rep. of Ireland only.)
Average, 10 Qns, yavemiel, Nov 26 21
Average
yavemiel
Nov 26 21
526 plays
2.
  Irish Dance    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are some questions for the Irish dancer funtrivia.com players!
Average, 10 Qns, teash, May 22 22
Average
teash
May 22 22
859 plays
3.
  Riverdance    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you are a "Riverdance" fan, these questions should be fairly easy. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, riverdancegirl, Jul 22 19
Average
riverdancegirl
Jul 22 19
597 plays
4.
  Irish Dancing    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz for all the Irish dancers out there. Dance names and competition categories are based on that of the eastern region of the US.
Average, 10 Qns, Legolas6000, Oct 06 23
Average
Legolas6000
Oct 06 23
693 plays
5.
  Step into Irish Dancing - Ceili Style    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is for the Ceili fanatic and/or individual studying for their TCRG. All answers are derived from the instructional booklet, "Ar Rinci Foirne" published by An Coimsiun le Rinci Galeacha (Irish Dancing Commission).
Tough, 10 Qns, emland, Apr 21 09
Tough
emland
265 plays
6.
  Modern Irish Dance    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Irish dance 2010 - Learn and answer questions about modern Irish dancing. From competitive to performing to "majors", this quiz is the quiz for Irish dance.
Average, 10 Qns, abiabi, Aug 29 11
Average
abiabi
197 plays
7.
  Irish Dance Set Pieces    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
One aspect of Irish Dancing is the Set Dance. This quiz is about set dances in general and the history of how each set dance got its name.
Average, 10 Qns, teash, Mar 21 06
Average
teash
327 plays
8.
  Irish Dance!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
New to Irish Dance in Midwest USA or just want to see how much you know about Mid-America competitions and current dance rules? This is the quiz to test yourself! Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, RingoFan1964, Apr 28 23
Average
RingoFan1964
Apr 28 23
250 plays
trivia question Quick Question
"An Ulster man I am proud to be/From Antrim town I come/All my life I have fished the stormy seas/Til I followed fife and drum . . ."

From Quiz "Irish Songs and Ballads"




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Irish Dance Trivia Questions
1. In what level of competition can you qualify for a solo dress?

From Quiz Irish Dance!

Answer: Novice

Solo dresses come in every color of the rainbow and in every size. There are skirt patterns and styles such as a three panel, five panel, bubble skirts, tutu, plus others.

2. What's another word for softshoes?

From Quiz Modern Irish Dance

Answer: Ghillies

They can also be called light shoes, pomps, pumps, and soft shoes. Softshoes are similar to ballet shoes and have long, complex laces. They are black and worn with special socks, sometimes called poodle or popcorn socks. They are used to perform the softshoe dances like the reel, slip jig, and light jig.

3. What dance is a round dance traditionally danced on St. John's Eve?

From Quiz Step into Irish Dancing - Ceili Style

Answer: "Bonfire Dance"

The Feast of St. John the Baptist coincides with the June solstice also referred to as Midsummers Eve. The Christian holy day is fixed at June 24, but, in the old way, festivities are celebrated the night before, on St. John's Eve.

4. There are two main types of dances which are danced competitively in light shoes by adult dancers. What are they?

From Quiz Traditional Irish Dance

Answer: Slip Jig and Reel

Yes, Slip Jigs and Reels are the main type of dances danced in soft shoes. When younger, dancers also dance single jigs and light jigs, but these are phased out as they grow older, so as to focus more on reels and slip jigs.

5. What is NOT a term to describe Irish dance shoes used to perform a slip jig?

From Quiz Irish Dance

Answer: jig shoes

Irish dance shoes for light dancing (reels, light jigs, slip jigs) are made of soft, black leather. They resemble ballet shoes, but with a criss-cross lacing pattern. The shoe must fit very snuggly so the dancer can show off arching of the foot during the dance.

6. What word in the title of a set dance means the song was written to honor someone?

From Quiz Irish Dance Set Pieces

Answer: planxty

Some set dances are the "planxties" such as "Planxty Drury". These tunes are nearly 300 years old and were written by Turlough O'Carolan. He composed the music to honor a friend, the friend's name listed last.

7. When was "Riverdance" first shown as a full show?

From Quiz Riverdance

Answer: 1995

"Riverdance" first appeared in Eurovision as a five-minute interval in 1994. This was not the full show. The full show came out in 1995.

8. What is the name of a weekend Irish Dance Competition?

From Quiz Irish Dance!

Answer: Feis

A feis (pronounced: fesh) is an Irish Dance competition or festival. Feiseanna are held on the weekends and most dancers will travel from three to six hours to get to these competitions in different parts of the region. Feis categories for dancers are First Feis, Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Novice, Prizewinner, Pre-Championships and Open Championships.

9. In the ranking of competitive Irish dancing for feisanna in the USA and Canada, what level comes after Prizewinner?

From Quiz Modern Irish Dance

Answer: Preliminary Championship

In Beginner and Advanced beginner, you simply need a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd to qualify to move to the next level in that dance. In Novice, you need a 1st in that dance to move to the next level. In Prizewinner, you need a 1st in one hardshoe dance and one softshoe dance to move to Preliminary Championship. In Prelim, you need two 1sts to move to Open.

10. In dancing, there are five levels through which a dancer may progress. Find the list below in which they are arranged correctly, starting with the lowest level, and progressing to the highest.

From Quiz Traditional Irish Dance

Answer: Beginner A, Beginner B, Second Grade, Pre-Open, Open

Yes, there are the five levels of Irish dancing. Generally, the numbers in Open are much smaller than, say in Beginner A, as many people lose interest and drop off on the way up. Competition is fierce, but friendly, and one of the great things about sticking it out until you're pre-open or open is that you tend to meet the same people all the time, and friendships spring up. In provincial competitions, the three earlier grades are omitted, and in the All-Irelands, Open dances are the only ones competed.

11. What is not a term to describe Irish dance shoes used to perform a hornpipe?

From Quiz Irish Dance

Answer: clogs

The shoes used to perform hard shoe dances have evolved over the years and now include hi-tech, fiberglass tips for better sound. Some dancers wear fancy buckles on the shoes.

12. Which famous person are these set dances related to: "Downfall of Paris", "Bonaparte's Retreat", "Madame Bonaparte"?

From Quiz Irish Dance Set Pieces

Answer: Napoleon & Bonaparte & Napoleon Bonaparte

One reason for this may have been that the Irish looked to the French for help in overthrowing English rule around Napoleon's time.

13. Who was the leading lady in "Riverdance" at first?

From Quiz Riverdance

Answer: Jean Butler

Jean Butler was the original leading lady. Eileen Martin was leading lady from 1997-2001 in the Lee Company. Tara Barry was leading lady from 2000-2003 in the Lagan Company. Bernadette Flynn is the leading lady in "Lord of the Dance".

14. What is an Irish dance local competition called?

From Quiz Modern Irish Dance

Answer: Feis

The plural of Feis is Feisanna. Feisanna are only local as National, Regional, and World competitions have specific names. Feisanna are open to anyone who is with a school, and you don't have to have any experience to compete.

15. Once you reach the second-highest level, many girls buy a special dress to wear for competitions which is unique to them. What is this dress called?

From Quiz Traditional Irish Dance

Answer: Solo dress

Solo dresses can be made specifically for someone, and can also be purchased second hand. They tend to be quite expensive, costing between 900 and 1500 euros (depending on size and complexity) and tend to be between 400 and 600 second hand. The diversity they introduce to competitions makes them much more interesting to watch, and a lot of work goes into making the dresses specific to the individual. My dress, for example, is quite an unusual colour for a costume (gold) and reflects my love of Celtic design.

16. What set dance was named after a drinking party at a particular place?

From Quiz Irish Dance Set Pieces

Answer: Humors of Bandon

The word Humour means drinking party, and the place would be Bandon.

17. Who was the leading man in "Riverdance" at first?

From Quiz Riverdance

Answer: Michael Flatley

Michael Flatley was lead in "Riverdance" until late 1995. He then went on to create "Lord of the Dance". Colin Dunne was the lead from late 1995-mid 1998. Pat Roddy took over from Colin Dunne in mid 1998 and continued to do the lead until 2001. Michael Patrick Gallagher was the lead in the Lagan Company from 1999-2003.

18. Each year there is a regional competition. What are these regional competitions called? Remember, dance names and competition categories are based on that of the eastern region of the US.

From Quiz Irish Dancing

Answer: Oireachtas

Dancers from all over the region come to dance in solo and ceili competition.

19. They are black and have padding in the bottom. They are a kind of Irish Dance shoe. They lace around the ankle and make no sound. What is the name of this shoe?

From Quiz Irish Dance!

Answer: Ghillies or Softshoes

The ghillie (pronounced gilly) is the shoe Irish Dancers wear for dances like the jig, reel, or Slipjig and do not make sound. The hardshoe is fit for dances like Treble Reel, Treble Jig, Hornpipe, and Traditional and Non-Traditional Sets.

20. What is an Irish Dance regional competition called?

From Quiz Modern Irish Dance

Answer: Oireachtas

Oireachtas literally means "gathering" in English. It is a regional competition that includes only those qualified, which are Preliminary and Open Championship. You can qualify for Nationals and even Worlds through the Oireachtas.

21. "Gates of Derry" has a favorite tune associated with the dance. Name it.

From Quiz Step into Irish Dancing - Ceili Style

Answer: "Quaker's Wife"

Derry's defensive walls are the most complete of any city in the British Isles. It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw the fortifications breached.

22. Very curly wigs have become almost obligatory for girls in Irish Dancing competitions in recent times. If you were looking to buy a wig, how would you find the different types listed?

From Quiz Traditional Irish Dance

Answer: They are listed under girls' names, e.g. Gráinne, Máire, etc, and you can then choose your colour.

Ah, yes, the infamous wigs. They were originally introduced for seriously competitive dancers who would go to maybe a feis a week, who were finding that curling their hair constantly was damaging it. However, they caught on like wildfire, and now nearly every girl in a competition wears one, despite their fairly ridiculous appearance, and the discomfort of wearing them. I'm not sure why they're listed under girls' names either, but that's the way it is!

23. Which set dance title is actually a code for Bonnie Prince Charles?

From Quiz Irish Dance Set Pieces

Answer: The Blackbird

The Blackbird is actually "code" for Bonnie Prince Charles who tried to overthrow the English with a group of Scotsmen.

24. How many judges decide who wins in a Preliminary Championship competition?

From Quiz Irish Dancing

Answer: 3 & three

Depending on the number of entries in a competition the judges will place about 1/3 to 1/2 of the competitors.

25. What is the word for a social gathering with music and dancing, which nowadays is the word for a group dance?

From Quiz Modern Irish Dance

Answer: Ceili

Popular ceilis include the 4-hand jig, the Humours of Bandon, Sweets of May, and 8-hand jig.

26. What is the minimum number of dancers required to perform the "Glencar Reel?"

From Quiz Step into Irish Dancing - Ceili Style

Answer: Six

The "Glencar Reel" is a dance for six people, three gents and three ladies who line up in two rows. The gents are on one side and the ladies the other with partners facing each other.

27. What are Irish dancing competitions known as at a local level?

From Quiz Traditional Irish Dance

Answer: Feiseanna

At a higher level, when you are looking to graduate to national or international level, the competitions are generally referred to as Oireachtais. Comórtaisí merely means 'competitions' in Irish, and dancing competitions is how they tend to be referred to by outsiders! : )

28. In which city in Ireland have the World Championships of Irish Dancing been held most often?

From Quiz Irish Dance

Answer: Dublin

For the first ten years of the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, the event was held in Dublin. After that, it has been held in different cities around the world - including a couple of times in the USA.

29. What set dance is named after an area in County Wexford, Ireland?

From Quiz Irish Dance Set Pieces

Answer: Garden of Daisies

"Garden of Daisies" was taken from the Garden of Deise, an area in County Wexford, Ireland.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:50 AM
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