Besides writing it would be Irish Dancing.
Irish Dancing is, well a dance from Ireland.
Does the name "Riverdance" or "Lord of the Dance" ring a bell? It's alright if it doesn't; those were and still are shows that perform on stages since the 1990s. Riverdance got the hit in Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. Now Irish Dancing is not such a big hit as before.
Rest assured I can't dance like those dancers on stage (yet). I'm lucky to get Irish Dance lessons outside of Ireland, especially in Switzerland from a good dance teacher who doesn't give the exact military drill like other Irish Dance teachers teach.
How I came to the idea of doing Irish Dancing has nothing to do with family or of that sort, because I have no Irish or English family relation (just German & French). Actually, I kind of stumbled upon it in an exhibition and got interested since I was 12 years old and then started. I'm an open-minded person and likes to try out new and special things (not bungee jumping in particular). So I tried out a lesson and enjoyed every moment of it. From the teacher, music to the very steps and choreography; even the sweating knowing it's worth it. Although complex and needind to focus on many things at the same time (multitasking), I found my joy and inner passion. I learned the steps and choreography faster than few others but the only trouble was keep smiling when performing in a festival. Now that has gotten easier; I sometimes feel free like a bird and overjoyed as if in love. Forgetting all my worries and step into my world of fairness and happiness. I always visit a two hour lesson once a week.
Irish Dance doesn't always need a partner to dance like in tango or salsa. It's flexible; you can dance solo, duo, or in a group large and small. Then due to the music and choreography you dance once fast and the other a bit slow. Sometimes even without music in stepping, your feet does the music or least the rhythym. Irish Dance is divided in two sorts of dancing: softshoes and hardshoes. The softshoes goes similar to that of ballet, wearing black leathered sort-of-ballet-shoes (ballet was created by out of Irish Dance and slightly changed by the French). Hardshoes is the stepping and tapping part. They are also black and make quiet a racket. They are not so flexible like the softshoes but no matter which shoes you wear, you always have to be on tiptoe (not like ballet but normal like when you sneak).
After my first lesson I had over my entire legs charlie horse and walked nearly like a penguine, plus also at my back and stomach for dancing up right. While dancing you aren't allowed to swing your arms as you like, they have to be either stiff beside your torso like a soldier, one or both hands placed upon your hips. Why it is so is all thanks to the English in history who gave the prohibition of Irish Dancing in Ireland, meaning moving with your entire body to music. The Irish proved their wit and so only moved their feet and thus the form is known today.
There are like in many dances also combetitions but in Irish Dance it is extreme compared to others. You have to not only dance your best in soft- and hardshoe, you also have to look good and hold certain "standards" like need to have curly hair or wear a curly wig along with a colurful dress for girls & women and tan your complexion if you are pale. By the men it is less stressing, they only need to wear a dark suit with long trousers and shirts and a waist coat, plus if they have long hair it should be out of your face when dancing. Crazy, right? Many dancers are against it and so am I but until then it remains a "tradition" and I will not set my foot in a combetition. Secondly the pressure, surely not comforting and thirdly, expensive that my vacations are gone (above all the dress is a four digit price).
But besides all that it is my joy in life. The music touches not only my soul but my heart. Especially in a choreography with right music, I am so happy that I could dance forever. Here is a clip to get an idea how Irish Dancing looks like. It is the exact scene from the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the famous Irish Dancer Michael Flatley and Jean Butler. Enjoy and cheers!819Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEw15kAvgg
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