Sean Nos in Irish Gaelic means old style , and is applied to the dance form as well as Sean-Nos song. It is an older form of traditional solo Irish dance. It is a casual dance form, as opposed to the more formal competition-oriented form, of Irish step dance. The roots of this form of dancing pre-date modern records. Differences in Sean-Nos dance between different regions of Ireland exist. Often it is attributed to the Connemara region, due to its stronger following here. There is no singular definitive standard of Sean -Nos. In the past every region had its own style which was influenced over time. Notable events in Irish history can be seen through the dance, like the steps of Ulster influenced by Scottish dancing and the low steps of the west coast influenced by the Spanish flamenco. Sean-Nos dance is characterised by its low to the ground footwork, improvised steps, free movement of the arms, and an emphasis upon a battering step (which sounds out more loudly the accented beat of the music). Traditional Sean-Nos dance surfaces include a standard wooden dance floor, a door that has been taken off the hinges, a table, a barrel, or even the top of a stool. In those cases, the skill of the dancer is shown by how well s/he can produce the various steps within the narrow bounds of the dance surface. By its nature, it follows the music closely. It is traditionally a solo dance form. Because Sean-Nos dancing is improvisational, it is not necessary for a pre-arranged routine or choreography to be decided upon by the dancer. Spontaneous expression is highly valued. Therefore, it is less common to see groups performing synchronised Sean-Nos dance (which requires choreography in advance). Instead, the dancers may dance in turns, playing off the energy of the other.
