JIGS

Jigs are one of the harder irish dances to learn, because they are more intracate and have a few more steps in them then a reel. There are three types of jigs, light jigs in 5/8 time, single jigs in 6/8 time and slip jigs in 9/8 time. Jigs are beautiful light  and lively dances. The jig you will learn here is a single jig. There are five steps to a single jig. Here they are in no particular order. Like reels jigs can be danced in both hard and soft shoes. Also like reels they are either simple or complex.

STEP DOWN, HOP UP AND JUMP TWO, THREE
From a start position, place your right foot ahead of your left foot with your toe pointed.
Hop your right foot up so that the toe of your right foot touches the knee of your left leg.
The last part of this step is just like the 1,2,3's done in the reel, except that you have already completed the first part of the step. Simply hop over on to your left foot.

JUMP 2,3,4,5,6,7
On completion of your first set of step down, hop up and jump 2,3's, you should end up on your left foot. From here this step isalmost exactly like the sets of sevens done in a reelexcept that you stay in place instead of traveling. The pattern for both your right and left feet is as follows:
                 1) in
                 2) out
                 3) in
                 4) out
                 5)in
                 6)out
                 7)in

POINT TAPS
Point the toe of your right foot ahead of your left foot and tap it twice on the floor.
Now quickly change feet and repeat this same move with your left foot.



HEEL TOE HEEL
Extend your right foot out ahead of you and to the side with only your heel on the floor. Now draw your left foot in behind your right foot. Quickly extend your right foot
out ahead of you exactly as you did the first time, this time however it is only your toe that will be on the floor.. Again draw your left foot in behind your right foot.
For the final part of this step, simply repeat the first part of the step. The  pattern is as follows: 1) heel
                     2) toe
                     3) heel

HALF TURNS
This step is best practiced in two parts. Start by simply jumping  up off the ground and as you jump  hop one leg ( your right) up across so that your left leg is straight and your right leg is across your left at a ninty degree angle. Once you have become competent with ths step , you can then proseed to the next part which is the actual step.
hop your right leg across your left leg so that your knees are temporaraly locked together. Now use the push that lifted your right leg across yur left  to turn yourself
around 180 degrees. Extend your right leg back down to the ground when you have your back to the audience. Now repeat this step exactly the same way, again with your right foot to turn the rest of the way around and face your audience again.


PATTERN FOR THE SINGLE JIG
Step down, hop up and jump 2,3, ( right foot
"                                                         " ( left foot)

  "                                                          " ( right foot)

                     jump 2,3,4,5,6,7
  step down, hop up and jump 2,3 ( left foot)
   "                                                        " ( right foot)
   "                                                        "( left foot)
                   jump 2,3,4,5,6,7
                   point , point ( left foot)
                  point, point  ( right foot)
on your heel and toe and heel with your right foot
                1/2 a turn to  face the back
                1/2 a turn to face the front again
                      jump 2,3,4,5,6,7
                  point, point  ( right foot)
                  point ,point ( left foot)
on your heel and toe and heel with your left foot
               1/2 a turn to face the back
               1/ 2 a turn to face the front again
                       jump 2,3,4,5,6,7