Editing Republic of Ireland (section)

===Music and dance===
{{Main|Irish music|Irish dance}}

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[[Folk music of Ireland|Irish traditional music]] has remained vibrant, despite globalising cultural forces, and retains many traditional aspects. It has influenced various music genres, such as American country and roots music, and to some extent modern rock. It has occasionally been blended with styles such as rock and roll and punk rock. Ireland has also produced many internationally known artists in other genres, such as rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Ireland's best selling musical act is the rock band [[U2]], who have sold 170&nbsp;million copies of their albums worldwide since their formation in 1976.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/u2-what-theyre-still-looking-for/3/|title=U2: What they're still looking for|publisher=[[CBS News]]|first=Anthony|last=Mason|date=24 May 2015|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601203109/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u2-what-theyre-still-looking-for/3/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are a number of classical music ensembles around the country, such as the [[RTÉ Performing Groups]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmc.ie/links/index.html |title=Contemporary Music Ireland |publisher=Contemporary Music Centre – Links |access-date=9 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224073202/http://www.cmc.ie/links/index.html |archive-date=24 February 2009 }}</ref> Ireland also has two opera organisations: [[Irish National Opera]] in Dublin, and the annual [[Wexford Festival Opera|Wexford Opera Festival]], which promotes lesser-known operas, takes place during October and November.

Ireland has participated in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] since 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2001/0404/mooreb.html |title=Showband legend Butch Moore dies |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |date=4 April 2001 |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811173736/http://www.rte.ie/ten/2001/0404/mooreb.html |archive-date=11 August 2012}}</ref> Its first win was in 1970, when [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] won with ''[[All Kinds of Everything]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/thedailyshow/2011/0307/dana107.html |title=Dana |work=The Daily Show: Celebrity Guests |publisher=[[RTÉ Television]] |date=11 March 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-date=11 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811024144/http://www.rte.ie/tv/thedailyshow/2011/0307/dana107.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It has subsequently won the competition [[Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest|six more times]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/stats.htm |title=Eurovision Song Contest Statistics |publisher=eurovisioncovers.co.uk |year=2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102232747/http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/stats.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/a_little_bit_eurovision.html |title=A Little Bit Eurovision |publisher=[[RTÉ Television]] |date=6 July 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-date=19 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219230315/http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/a_little_bit_eurovision.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the highest number of wins by any competing country. The phenomenon ''[[Riverdance]]'' originated as an interval performance during the [[1994 Eurovision Song Contest|1994 contest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio1/stephensday/1030324.html |title=On The Road with Riverdance |publisher=[[RTÉ Radio 1]] |date=1 December 2004 |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124221048/http://www.rte.ie/radio1/stephensday/1030324.html |archive-date=24 November 2012}}</ref>

Irish dance can broadly be divided into [[social dance]] and [[performance dance]]. Irish social dance can be divided into ''céilí'' and set dancing. Irish [[set dance]]s are [[quadrilles]], danced by 4 couples arranged in a square, while [[Ceili dance|céilí dances]] are danced by varied [[Formation dance|formations]] of couples of 2 to 16 people. There are also many stylistic differences between these two forms. Irish social dance is a living tradition, and variations in particular dances are found across the country. In some places dances are deliberately modified and new dances are choreographed. Performance dance is traditionally referred to as [[step dance|stepdance]]. [[Irish stepdance]], popularised by the show ''[[Riverdance]]'', is notable for its rapid leg movements, with the body and arms being kept largely stationary. The solo stepdance is generally characterised by a controlled but not rigid upper body, straight arms, and quick, precise movements of the feet. The solo dances can either be in "soft shoe" or "hard shoe".