Editing Irish dance (section)

====Shoes and costume====
[[File:Irish dance (4944374782).jpg|thumb|Shoes and costume]]
There are two types of shoes; soft shoes (also known as [[Ghillies (dance)|ghillies]] or pumps) and hard shoes. Hard shoes are similar to [[tap dance|tap]] shoes, except that the tips and heels are made of [[fiberglass]], instead of metal, and are significantly bulkier. Another aspect of the hard shoe that sets it apart from a tap shoe is its ability to go "on block" or en [[Pointe technique|pointe]]. The first hard shoes had wooden or leather taps with metal nails. Later the taps and heels were made of resin or fiberglass to reduce the weight and to make the sounds louder. The soft shoes, which are called ''[[ghillies (dance)|ghillies]]'', are black leather lace-up shoes similar to ballet slippers. ''Ghillies'' are only worn by girls, while boys wear black leather shoes called "reel shoes", which resemble black [[jazz shoe]]s with a hard heel. Boy's soft-shoe dancing features audible heel clicks and stomps. A new trend includes adding white laces to the soft shoes, and white tape to the straps of the hard shoes to blend in with the sock and give the illusion of elongating the legs.

Several generations ago, the appropriate dress for a competition was simply "Sunday best" (clothes one would wear to church). Irish Dance schools generally have school dresses, worn by lower-level competitors, in public performances, and in team competitions. As dancers advance in competition or are given starring roles in public performances, they may get a solo dress of their own design and colours or wear the team dress. In the 1970s and 1980s, ornately embroidered dresses became popular. Today even more ornamentation is used on girls' dresses, including rhinestones, sequins, and other bling. Solo dresses are unique to each dancer. Today most women and girls wear a wig, a bun or hairpiece for a competition, but some still curl their own hair. Costumes are heavily integrated into the Irish dance culture and feature traditional elements of classic peasant wear adorned with Celtic designs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crystalparade.co.uk/blog/history-irish-dancing/|title=The History of Irish Dancing {{!}} Crystal Parade Blog|website=www.crystalparade.co.uk|language=en|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref> Most men wear a shirt, vest or jacket, and tie paired with black trousers. The vest or jacket of the men's costume is also commonly adorned with crystals, traditional knotwork, and embroidery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adcirishdancers.com/faq#:~:text=Male%20dancers%20can%20wear%20kilts,celtic%20knotwork%2C%20embroidery%20and%20gems./|title= FAQ An Dragan Ceilteach Irish Dancers {{!}} An Dragan Ceilteach Irish Dancers|website=www.adcirishdancers.com|language=en|access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref> Each Irish dance school has its own distinctive full skirted dress, often featuring lace or an embroidered pattern copied from the medieval Irish [[Book of Kells]].<ref>Margaret Scanlan (2006). "Culture and Customs of Ireland". p. 163. Greenwood Publishing Group</ref>