Facts
Traditional Irish music.
Music handed down from one generation to the next, or passed from one performer to another more by example than by formal teaching. Change only takes place slowly, and in accordance with generally accepted principles. Repertories and styles have originally evolved in given regions, but the natural process of diffusion and especially the modern communications media have spread them more widely.
Sean Nós Dancing
The term Sean Nós (old style) step dancing is used to refer to the old traditional style of solo step dance mainly performed in Irish-speaking areas. Unlike the style of the modern dancing schools, there is freedom of arm movements, the steps do not follow a prescribed pattern and the stepping is closee to the floor. The dancer in the sean nós style does not attempt to ”cover the floor”. Most steps are danced ”in place”.
Set Dancing
A popular, social-dance form which originated in France as ”sets of quadrilles”, it was spread first to England and Scotland and then to Ireland by military personnel and various travellers. The dance was further developed by eighteenth-century dancing masters who first taught it in its original form to the upper classes and later by applying Irish dancing steps and Irish music to the original French dance movements, to the ordinary people.
Irish Dance forms.
1. Display dance: step dance (so-called ”Irish dance” or ”Irish step dance”. Taught, as in Riverdance, performed in costumes). ”Old style” step dance (taught, and without costumes) and, related to this, a free-styleform, typically referred to as ”sean nós” dance.
2. Social dance: The oldest is set dance; céili dance is a mixture of old and new choreographies build around old steps; and ballroom dancing which involves waltz,quick-step, two-step and other dances.
Battering
”Battering” or ”battering steps” or ”steps for sets” are danced close to the floor, ranging from simple to fast footwork adding a percussive element to set dancing.
The two predominate styles are Clare battering and
Connemara battering.
Session
A loose association of musicians who meet, generally but not always, in a pub to play an unpredetermined selection, mainly of dance music. There will be one or more”core”musicians, and others who are less regular. The musical behaviour in a session is largely controlled by the relative status of the people playing, with the higher-status musicians exercising more control over the way it develops.
Sean Nós Dancing 1. Sean Nós Dancing 2.  Setdancing 1.  Setdancing 2.
 
Brush/Broom Dancing 1. Brush/Broom Dancing 2.
Battering 1.
Battering 2.
Irish Dancing 1. Irish Dancing 2. "Riverdance" 1. "Riverdance" 2.