Irish dance continued during this period of intense repression - albeit in secret. The dance teachers traveled from town to town spending some time in each teaching dance in kitchens, farm outbuildings, at cross roads, hedge schools, etc. Sometimes the dance masters competed at feisianna, the winner being the one who knew the most steps. These men were the creators of set and ceili dances and created schools of dancing - the precursors of those we see today. Poise, posture, hand, back, leg and foot position and use of stage are all considered in addition to the expectation that the steps will be in accordance with the requirements for the specific set dance.
Individual interpretation is in terms of the skills of performing the set steps.
Ceili dances take a number of forms as round dances, line dances, progressive line dances. Many modern ceili dances have known authors courtesy of the efforts of the Irish Dancing Commission. In the context of Irish dancing a ceili is a gathering with music, song and dancing and participation by all those attending. Irish set dances evolved from a combination of the footwork and movements of the step and ceili dances and the French Quadrilles or court dances of the 18th and 19th century. These dances were brought to Ireland and taught by the early dance masters.