Ghillies (dance)

Ghillies are soft shoes that are worn on different Irish and Scottish dances. Other designations are light shoes, pomps, pumps, and soft shoes.

The training shoes very similar in ballet shoes are worn at the Irish Céilí dance of women, the Scottish Country Dance and Highland dancing by women and men.

Material

Ghillies are almost always made ​​of soft leather that conforms to the shape of the foot. Laced they are with long laces that zigzag between the eyelets on the front of the foot. Sometimes the strips are pulled in a loop under the sole. The sole is also made of leather and extends generally along the entire length of the underside, sometimes a split sole made ​​of oval leather patch is used under the ball and heel. Ghillies are usually (but not necessarily ) black.

Scottish Ghillies normally have eyelets, while Irish Ghillies usually the protruding ends of the leather are sewn into a loop to pull the laces.