Ghillies (dance shoes): Difference between revisions

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Ghillies are specially designed shoes used for several types of dance. They are soft shoes, similar to ballet shoes. They are used by women in Irish dance, by men and women in Scottish country dance, and by men and women in Scottish highland dance.

Ghillies are also sometimes known by a variety of other names that include: light shoes, pomps, pumps, and soft shoes.

Appearance and materials

Ghillies are soft shoes, almost always made of a supple leather that forms to the foot. They use laces which criss-cross the top of the foot and are tied together similar to a sneaker. Most dancers use laces (required in competitions), although some ghillies do utilize elastic. Some dancers will also wrap the laces/elastics around the soles of the feet. The soles usually stretch across the entire bottom of the shoe (full-soled) and are made from leather. Some ghillies, however, are split-soled, with a leather sole under the heel and under the ball of the foot. Ghillies are most commonly black, although other colours (such as red, green, and white) are manufactured. White ghillies can be dyed a variety of colours to be used for costumes specially choreographed dances such as blue, red, pink and others.

Scottish ghillies

Scottish ghillies are used by men and women for Highland dancing and for Scottish country dancing. They are almost always black, although they often feature coloured stitching and eyelets. Highland ghillies, for Highland dances, generally need to fit snugly but also need to be able to get on the foot around thick socks or hose; for National dances, they fit snugly as they are worn with thin socks or stockings. They are generally worn very tight in order to get a good point.

Irish ghillies

Irish ghillies are used by women in Irish dancing, whereas men wear reel shoes.^{[clarification needed]} Unlike Scottish ghillies, the Irish version rarely feature coloured stitching, and they use loops in the leather, as opposed to eyelets, for the laces. Irish ghillies are available in a solid tan leather sole and a split sole.^{[citation needed]}

Comparison with ballet shoes

Like ballet shoes, ghillies are generally made from leather, and have similar soles. Many dancers who start in Highland or Irish dancing will first use ballet shoes, as the cost is considerably lower. The most easily recognizable difference between ballet shoes and ghillies is that ghillies use laces to fasten them to the foot, whereas ballet shoes generally use an elastic across the ankle. Also the laces are very long, and are wrapped around the ankle and foot before tied. Other differences are that ghillies do not have a string/elastic around the edge of the shoe to tighten them, and the soles of ghillies are not usually stitched on, but glued on.

Other uses

Ghillies, or ghillie brogues, are also a type of shoe with laces along the instep and no tongue, especially those used for Scottish country dancing. Although now worn for dancing and social events, ghillies originated as a shoe that would dry quickly due to the lack of a tongue, and not get stuck in the mud because of their laces above the ankle.
In a perhaps more recent and certainly competing shoe-related use, Ghillie has also been used to describe laced shoes where rings or loops that project over the tongue are attached to the upper as an alternative to the use of eyelets punctured in the upper; this style is often seen on athletic shoes.
Ghillies can also be used for other forms of dance, such as lyrical.

References

External links

New Scotland Country Dance Society

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+{{Short description|Soft shoe for Irish and Scottish dancing}}
-{{otheruses4|the dancing shoes|the Camouflage|Ghillie suit}}
+{{refimprove|date=June 2023}}
+{{wiktionary|ghillies}}
+[[Image:Ghillie.JPG|thumb|Irish ghillies]]
+[[Image:Ghillie bw 1.JPG|thumb|Irish dance ghillies]]
+'''Ghillies''' are specially designed [[shoe]]s used for several types of dance.  They are soft shoes, similar to [[ballet shoes]].  They are used by women in [[Irish dance]], by men and women in [[Scottish country dance]], and by men and women in [[Scottish highland dance]].
-[[Image:Ghillie bw 1.JPG|right|200 px|Irish dance ghillies]]
+Ghillies are also sometimes known by a variety of other names that include: light shoes, pomps, pumps, and soft shoes.
-'''Ghillies''' are specially designed shoes used for several types of dance.  They are soft shoes, similar to [[ballet shoes]].  They are used by women in [[Irish Dance]], by men in [[Scottish Country Dance]], and by men and women in [[Highland Dance]].
 ==Appearance and materials==
+Ghillies are soft shoes, almost always made of a supple [[leather]] that forms to the foot.  They use laces which criss-cross the top of the foot and are tied together similar to a sneaker.  Most dancers use laces (required in competitions), although some ghillies do utilize elastic. Some dancers will also wrap the laces/elastics around the soles of the feet. The soles usually stretch across the entire bottom of the shoe (full-soled) and are made from leather. Some ghillies, however, are split-soled, with a leather sole under the heel and under the ball of the foot. Ghillies are most commonly black, although other colours (such as red, green, and white) are manufactured. White ghillies can be dyed a variety of colours to be used for costumes specially choreographed dances such as blue, red, pink and others.
+==Scottish ghillies==
-Ghillies are soft shoes, almost always made of a supple [[leather]] that forms to the foot.  They use laces which criss-cross the top of the foot and are tied together, much like [[running shoes]].  Some dancers prefer to use elastics instead of laces.  Some dancers will also wrap the laces/elastics around the soles of the feet.<ref>[http://www.standrews-shoemakers.com/centinal.cgi?p=shoes_adult_ghillies Product Listing - shoes_adult_ghillies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
+Scottish ghillies are used by men and women for Highland dancing and for Scottish country dancing. They are almost always black, although they often feature coloured stitching and eyelets. Highland ghillies, for Highland dances, generally need to fit snugly but also need to be able to get on the foot around thick socks or hose; for National dances, they fit snugly as they are worn with thin socks or stockings. They are generally worn very tight in order to get a good point.
-The soles are generally made of suede or leather.  They are generally full soles, although some makers do provide split soled ghillies.
-The most common colour of ghillies are black, although makers do offer other colours such as red, green, and white.  White ghillies can be dyed a variety of colours to be used for costumes specially choreographed dances.
-==Scottish Ghillies==
+==Irish ghillies==
+Irish ghillies are used by women in [[Irish dancing]], whereas men wear reel shoes.{{huh|date=September 2024}} Unlike Scottish ghillies, the Irish version rarely feature coloured stitching, and they use loops in the leather, as opposed to eyelets, for the laces. Irish ghillies are available in a solid tan leather sole and a split sole.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
+==Comparison with ballet shoes==
-Scottish Ghillies are used by men and women for Highland Dancing, and by men for Scottish Country Dancing.<ref>[http://www.newscotland.org.uk/page/info/dance_equipment New Scotland Country Dance Society<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  They are almost always black, although they can often feature coloured stitching and eyelets.<ref>[http://www.standrews-shoemakers.com/centinal.cgi?cart_id=z77fud.a7037*eW7Scp&p_id=00009&xm=on&ppinc=more Product Listing<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Highland ghillies generally need to be a bit larger than the foot, due to being worn with thick socks or hose.
+Like [[ballet shoes]], ghillies are generally made from leather, and have similar soles.  Many dancers who start in Highland or Irish dancing will first use ballet shoes, as the cost is considerably lower.
+The most easily recognizable difference between ballet shoes and ghillies is that ghillies use laces to fasten them to the foot, whereas ballet shoes generally use an elastic across the ankle. Also the laces are very long, and are wrapped around the ankle and foot before tied. Other differences are that ghillies do not have a string/elastic around the edge of the shoe to tighten them, and the soles of ghillies are not usually stitched on, but glued on.
-==Irish Ghillies==
-Irish Ghillies are used by women in Irish Dancing.  Men wear a stronger leather shoe similar to jazz shoes.
-Unlike Scottish Ghillies, the Irish version rarely feature coloured stitching, and they use loops in the leather, as opposed to eyelets, for the laces.<ref>[http://www.corrsirishshoes.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=9 Corrs Irish Shoes - Product Catalog<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
-==Comparison to Ballet Shoes==
-Like [[ballet shoes]], ghillies are generally made from leather, and have similar soles.  Many dancers who start in Highland or Irish dancing will first use ballet shoes, as the cost is considerably lower.
-The most easily recognizable difference between ballet shoes and ghillies is that ghillies use laces to fasten them to the wearers foot, whereas ballet shoes generally use an elastic across the ankle.
-Other differences are that ghillies do not have a string/elastic around the edge of the shoe to tighten them, and the soles of ghillies are not usually stitched on, but glued on.
 ==Other uses==
-* [[ghillies (dance)|Ghillies]], or [[Brogues|Ghillie Brogues]], are also a type of shoe with laces along the instep and no tongue, especially those used for [[Scottish country dancing]]. Although now worn for dancing and social events, ghillies originated as a shoe that would dry quickly due to the lack of a tongue, and not get stuck in the mud because of their laces above the ankle.
+* Ghillies, or [[brogues|ghillie brogues]], are also a type of shoe with [[lace]]s along the instep and no tongue, especially those used for [[Scottish country dancing]]. Although now worn for dancing and social events, ghillies originated as a shoe that would dry quickly due to the lack of a tongue, and not get stuck in the mud because of their laces above the ankle.
+* In a perhaps more recent and certainly competing shoe-related use, Ghillie has also been used to describe laced shoes where rings or loops that project over the tongue are attached to the upper as an alternative to the use of eyelets punctured in the upper; this style is often seen on [[athletic shoe]]s.
+* Ghillies can also be used for other forms of dance, such as [[Lyrical dance|lyrical]].
+==References==
-* In a perhaps more recent and certainly competing shoe-related use, Ghillie has also been used to describe laced shoes where rings or loops that project over the tongue are attached to the upper as an alternative to the use of eyelets punctured in the upper; this style is often seen on [[Athletic_shoe|athletic shoes]].
+{{reflist}}
+==External links==
-*Ghillies can also be used for other forms of dance, such as lyrical.
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100325203517/http://www.newscotland.org.uk/page/info/dance_equipment New Scotland Country Dance Society]
+{{Irish dance}}
+{{Footwear|state=autocollapse}}
+[[Category:Dance shoes]]
-==References==
+[[Category:Highland dress]]
-{{reflist}}
+[[Category:Irish dance]]
-[[Category:Dancewear]]
+[[Category:Scottish country dance]]
-[[Category:Shoes]]
+[[Category:Scottish Highland dance]]
 [[Category:Sports footwear]]