Irish dancing in general is simply called Irish dance or Irish dancing , and the most famous style people usually mean is Irish stepdance.

Quick Scoop: What is Irish Dancing Called?

When people ask “what is Irish dancing called,” they’re usually referring to a few closely related things:

  • Irish dance / Irish dancing – the overall traditional dance form from Ireland.
  • Irish stepdance – the iconic style with a very straight upper body and fast, intricate footwork (think Riverdance).
  • Céilí dancing – social group dances done at parties and gatherings, often in lines or circles.
  • Set dancing – square “set” formations of four couples, similar to old country dances.
  • Sean-nós dancing – an older, looser, more improvised style, often danced close to the ground.

So if you just need the quick everyday name, you can safely say: Irish dancing or, for the showy competition style, Irish stepdancing.

TL;DR: It’s broadly called Irish dance/Irish dancing , and the famous stiff‑upper‑body style is Irish stepdance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.