Strictly Irish Dancing (part 1)

TV3 in Ireland, aired this two part documentary on September 2011 featuring Karl Drake and his dancers.

[@dancer_2266]

I know some of you think that Irish dancing is ruined by the dress and wigs and makeup. That's your opinion. But it's not about that at all. If someone walked on the stage in a black skirt and leotard and no make up and their normal hair they would get judged the exact same. Irish dance is beautiful with or without makeup,wigs and the dresses.

[@reginacano-gonzales9207]

Dancer_ 22 UNDERSTOOD! Check out all star cheerleading in the U.S.We get judged the same way. however the athleticism in the sport is insane. So know you all have Many who understand and respect you for WHAT YOU DO not how you look doing it! 😘

[@mattfisher8553]

yes true

[@simosc2]

@Dancer_22...I am American and just discovered these awesome videos. The dance is amazing. Everything about this art is amazing. I am curious about the wigs. Do they represent something about the dance?

[@superhetoric]

​@@simosc2 pretty sure they're supposed to emphasize the jumping and bouncing

[@paulinemegson8519]

So….leave off the makeup and wigs then. It IS about the dance after all. Irish dance was a peasants dance, it was working people that danced so the mad outfits are both understandable(hey, when else would they get to dress up like that) and ridiculous, and nowadays there’s no real reason for it. If Riverdance did anything for Irish dance hopefully it softened that “competition look”. I mean, let’s be honest, there is nothing graceful or attractive in 10 year old girls dancing in wigs bigger than their heads and makeup that’s been applied with a paint roller

[@marywilson4738]

I saw Lord Of The Dance with my daughter. It was the most breathtaking thing I had ever seen. My mothers family was Irish and I have always loved everything Irish despite living in the US.

[@twirbyy233]

I wish I started when I was younger. Because then I would’ve gotten all of the technic down by the time I started doing bigger/ longer dances. I’m 14 down and I’m only a beginner and I dance with 6-12 year olds but I still try to do my best.

[@lilyluecking7216]

I have been doing irish dance for 4-5 years and I love it. I truly feel like it is my calling

[@gracethomas3344]

I only started irish dance like 4 weeks ago and love it 👯👯

[@colleengallagher7648]

grace Thomas do you to the 2012worlds?

[@gracethomas3344]

+Colleen Gallagher no

[@TheMemeturtle]

grace thomas do you still dance?!

[@user-rd9lo5ks3t]

Do u still dance now?

[@SquishyGamers25]

Do you still do it

[@carolweaver-ed2gj]

I just love Irish dancing I’m Australian we saw Lord of the Dance when it came out here Last week I went to the Civic theatre in Newcastle NSW we saw a taste on Ireland it was great 😊 Irish dancing is loved here. My grandmother and my great grandparents were Irish I have been to Ireland 3 time the last time we took my granddaughter we stayed down in around Blarney Cork ❤

[@erinprice-kavanagh878]

I am an Irishdancer I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@kieradoesstuff629]

Me too

[@fattyboomber1265]

I'm not and it's not part of my culture but I love it as much as you do. So thank you for your culture. Awesome music, awesome dance.

[@Megsy92xo]

Bizzare to see my old high school on here!!

[@zarahdaly7539]

I’m only in dancing a year and I’m in a really high grade and I won the nationals and the worlds ❤️👯‍♀️ Irish dancing is my life I would give up anything for it! ❤️

[@stacischuck3844]

Claire is Stunning ... Reminds me of a Prima ballerina only more beautiful!

[@dawash7012]

I LIKE WATCHING IRISH AND SCOTTISH DANCERS ON HERE. PLUS IRISH AND SCOTTISH ARE PART OF MY FAMILY BACKGROUND. THE KILTS SUITS AND WOMEN COSTUMES ARE PRESENTABLE, HAND MADE WITH HIGH QUALITY AND RHYTHM OF SHOES ON STAGE. IT BRINGS OUT THE BEST AND BEAUTY OF BOTH CULTURES. I LIKE THE SOUND OF BAGPIPES AND SWORD DANCING. IT IS GOOD TO SEE MALES PARTICIPATING IN DANCING. IT BUILDS STRONGER LEGS, INCREASE YOUR REFLEXES AND YOUR AGILITY. IT WILL HELP MALES TO PERFORM BETTER IN BOXING, MARTIAL ARTS AND MORE.

[@punkgirlwithbluehair582]

I am a Irish dancer but I am Scottish and me and friends go to dance class together and trust me Irish dancing looks easy but it's not !!💚💚

[@amysully60]

Eireann Guild That's amazing because in most areas in Ireland you get grief or even bullied for Irish dancing, while its so popular in other countries most people are afraid to dance in ireland , I play Irish music and I do Irish dancing, believe it or not I get picked on for music and dancing (which is part of our culture) because its "uncool" no matter how far you travel, society's standards always seem to follow

[@paigeleigh2554]

@@amysully60 That's terrible! After Riverdance, I'm surprised this behaviour still goes on. In England, I did Irish dancing for seven years, and this was in an Irish Club.

[@michellemuskeyn329]

It doesn’t look easy to me

[@abbielouisex4204]

I met Michael flatly and he said tat I was his future star

[@brendaspain6567]

Yeah right!

[@brendaspain6567]

+Brenda Spain JK! My dancing teacher met Flatley. She said he was really nice.

[@jodiegavin6409]

I love Irish dancing

[@davidmaschmeier6480]

Riverdance at the Fox Theater in St.Louis is when I first saw the Riverdance performance.It impressed me.

[@CB394]

I had a £30 dress for Irish dancing. It was plain purple and had a little bit of bling on the collar. It was modest and pretty and I loved it. I gave it to my ex Irish Dancing teacher. I got it on Amazon

[@aoifemccann534]

I danced for six years and I competed in many festivals but I was a festival dancer there was no makeup , wig needed . Just pure dancing I am ot saying anything bad about this dancing I truly enjoy it !♡

[@naoimhoconnor6253]

I starting dancing when I was 4 and I'm now 14. I broke my foot 13 months ago and had to undergo 2 oparations to try and fix it. I had to give it up because my foot would never be able to come with it. I was so sad I cryed for hours. I got 2 compeate in 3 worlds and never got to do any more

[@amberslahlize7961]

Isn't there a more causal version of Irish dancing? I'm a noob, pardon my forward question. :)

[@paulinemegson8519]

@@amberslahlize7961 ofc there is. Many Irish people and people of Irish descent(and folk with no Irish heritage at all for that matter) may have done a bit of Irish dance in their youth, and haul it out on social occasions. People step dance at parties. There are many places where folk still dance so called “folk dances” and can throw out a jig or a reel or a clog dance.

[@taiblademaster]

Man... I miss the Drake School. I never went to Worlds, but I miss the competitions and the pride I had in doing Irish dance.

[@emilygallagher2885]

Did u dance for karl drake?

[@taiblademaster]

I did. For six years. I eventually had to stop because my ankles were dead...

[@zheyan6428]

7:53 the tap sound is amazing

[@MrJking065]

Fun fact. Flat Footing Clogging Buck Dancing (African America) Pow Pow (American Indian) and square dancing which come out of the Mountains of North Carolina. All can trace their roots back to the Irish Dance. If you watch people preform from North Carolina they dance straight armed. Add a little sand to the Floor and you shag dancing which started in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.

[@imtweetydiva29]

Thanks for the information about the history of its influence in dance cultures . I am half Native American Indian and African American. That explains why I am attracted to the Irish dancing.

[@queensavage1319]

I have been Irish dancing for 9 years btw I'm fully Irish from cushendall and I have a green and black dress

[@emermccabe71]

I might not be an irish dancer but my friend aine matthews (ring a bell) competed in the worlds 4 the past 2 r 3 year & placed high & she was in london this year but i havent talked 2 her but she mentioned lookin up irish dancin stuff on utube so i did & im addicted

[@emilygallagher2885]

Yea it does

[@RRLnext]

Michael Flatley created Riverdance too...

[@TheMemeturtle]

RRLnext no idiot

[@1006kathleen]

The girl interviewing at the end ' my advice to her is enjoy yourself to the max and you'll keep doing the best no matter what .

[@ktdoodlebugs]

Never realized how big the school got or is now. I used to dance for them about 12-13 years ago!

[@cleomcevoy2817]

I started irish dancing this year and i love it .I love the dresses I hate the wigs

[@cleomcevoy2817]

h

[@gemmacullinan962]

My new dress is getting made by Gavin dorertdy

[@keelym6027]

Me to Gavin was my judge

[@TheMemeturtle]

DancesMoms ALDCxoxo he is my teacher lol

[@amethystjayne4879]

I'd love to see a uniform like highland dance has. I picked my school because dresses are the just a school dress, and only ponytail wigs are allowed.

[@chelseawalsh2887]

Im a highland dancer and I kind of agree I like the more simpler dresses because some look tacky especially the neon colours xx just my opinion

[@1006kathleen]

Those wigs are awful looking same with the heavy makeup on these awesome excellent dancers ! Lord of the dance has the right idea for the costumes . those poor young girls dancing in those heavy uncomfortable wigs and make up going into the eyes as you sweat " I don't think its right , the boys are the lucky ones lol . But wow these girls are so awesome " love watching them both boys and girls so much fun to watch ! When the men dance it sounds like drums going off , love it ! Went to see River Dance when they came to Connecticut in the U S A Would love to see them 100 more times ! I would have loved to of learned this dancing myself , wish they of had it around here when I was young , but I can enjoy watching its so powerful . 💖⭐

[@MrJking065]

Have you ever wondered why the Irish dance with their arms down by the side. Queen Elizabeth I Demanded the Irish come and dance for her. The Irish were made to dance for her. But the refused to raise their arms for her. They kept their arms rigidly down by their sides in defiance of the Queen. The Irish wanted to show their fellow countrymen they were not enjoying themselves as they were forced to dance for her and the English. Than comes the Catholic Church. The tradition says that the clergy of that time didn’t want the young people to get too carried away with their dancing and this in turn might lead to some smooching. So they made the dancer carry a heavy stone in both hands so that they had to keep them by their sides when dancing with the opposite sex as to prevent them from holding hands during the dances. So The straight arm style dancing is a combination of things that has happened to the Irish. And that is how Straight arm style dancing came to be in Ireland.

[@scarlettanderson9816]

I'm joining soon

[@Chloe-sq8hi]

I am an Irish dancer and I go SO MANY PLACES!

[@lilyryan2348]

I love Irish dance

[@aislingtroy8896]

2020 anyone?

[@mywhimsylifed.3055]

I have wanted to scream this from the roof tops, an American teacher featured. Body shames dancers, gossips on how ugly they are, horrible person. I'm a parent and stood toe to toe. Why do the need to scream and intimidate? Is anybody hearing me. If you want to shout out a great teacher, say it. She was not my daughter's teacher but a shout out to Myra Watters.

[@amandaread1192]

I do Irish dancing

[@robloxplayer5942]

I do Irish dancing where does every one else do Irish dancing I do it a the academy

[@keevas]

The most annoying thing of being an Irish dancer is probably the heavy make up you have to wear and the wigs,,I have been Irish dancing for 8 years and I came 2nd in World Championship

[@yeliabbskoob9312]

Watch it aucourant

[@ghrpayne4396]

i would like to know what happened to Micheal Flatly? He has the most energetic personality. Just to look at him one can feel his passion. He is brilliant.I never get tired to watch him.

[@1nicejackelfan224]

He recently stopped dancing, i think

[@cathydchurch]

Lord of the Dance is still Michael Flatley's production. I understand that his last performance was in 2016. He had to turn over the lead due to many physical issues brought about from intensive dancing for so many years.

[@anneramones2923]

The costumes and the wigs are ridiculous

[@erinelizabeth3254]

Anne Ramones they aren't ridiculous we love to wear them it gives us confidence

[@debbierodden550]

I agree

[@teresasierchio9849]

I just hate those wigs,,wish they would go back to the real art of the dance in its rawness

[@Red_Beard2798]

+Teresa Sierchio I'm fairly certain that all of it is optional; the girls are just pressured into wearing all of it from their dance friends, other competitors, other parents and even their teachers. There was a girl at this year's world championships who wore pants and a vest; and another at the All-Scotlands or worlds I think that wore her natural hair down

[@maggiefogarty-harnish9667]

You can really do anything you want(there are rules about Sleeve length and collar length etc.) but other than that it is up to you. It's just that everyone wants to follow the trends. If you look you can see people with natural hair and it was a big trend a couple of years ago where everyone had natural hair. I agree some years the trends where god awful but recently I think they have been looking pretty nice for example Amy Mae Dolan has amazing hair and wig styling.

[@shannonsherwin7269]

i agree I live in northen Ireland and we call this wigs and jigs

[@erinelizabeth3254]

Teresa Sierchio we can wear what we want so we can have the dress or not wig or not so if we want them on we wear them

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

😊😊😊😊

[@Puig60]

Éire go Brách!

[@Elong.]

Kim of queens brought me here!

[@b00gieb4by2]

Omg me too lol lool 😂

[@becsta1322]

what's a good age to start ??

[@carlaparmentier4422]

+becsta Usually around 4 years old! Some people start at 3 1/2, but really you can start at any age!

[@luciasenkova]

I started when i was 7

[@brendaspain6567]

+Lucia Šenková I started when I was 10 (one year ago) and I am in Prizewinner now.

[@Red_Beard2798]

+becsta Depends on a lot of factors. You can start at any age, but if you want to get as much experience and skill as possible, start as soon as possible; however if you are completely dedicated to ID then you can start as late as your mid-teens if you want to do well

[@brendaspain6567]

+Brenda Spain I mean Grade C. That's the equivalent of Prizewinner in the USA.

[@jasminshore8990]

I can't do my kicks and jumps as well cause I pulled a muscle in the back of my leg

[@Toofu_s]

My mom doesn't want me to where the wig :/

[@TheMemeturtle]

RandomLiv 101 why?

[@twirbyy233]

Aw that sucks. They’re a pain to put on and keep there. (They hurt after an hour) but they top off the whole outfit

[@nbenefiel]

I love Irish dancing but I loathe the dresses and, especially, the wigs.

[@amberslahlize7961]

Not a big fan of dancing...but Irish dancing is something different.

[@thomasgenicq258]

None matches Róisín Ní Mhainín! :) Agus Edwina Ní Eochainn

[@bronwynbarry1607]

+aucourant I think u should keep ur opinions to yourself

[@fattyboomber1265]

Why can't you use your hands in Irish dancing? Just curious? Is it a cultural thing? The wigs remind me of Fran Drescher in the nanny. They gots to go

[@mntlhlthaddtnstilltrying]

the church said no dancing so you leave hands by sides and upper bony totally still so as if they clergy happened by the pub they wouldn't see any dancing

[@fattyboomber1265]

Anna Clinch Really??

[@weeardguy]

The funny thing is that you will find more than one explanation why we won't use our arms during dancing. What 'that one Aussie mum' explained is one of 'em. The 'church-theory' is actually a theory that has quite a lot of truth in it: all the waving the arms around would only seduce the other sex (with all possible 'side-effects' there could be) so a solution was to keep the arms steady during dancing. But, there are also theories about space being the simple reason: in old Irish homes and Irish pubs, there simply was not much room to wave your arms around during dancing, so the best thing was to keep them stationary. And then there is also a theory a contestant from the US-version of So You Think You Can Dance brought into the world (although a professional dancer has said this as well) and said that the occupation by the British is to blame for the steady arms.

[@fattyboomber1265]

weeardguy ahh so many theories! Thanks for the info...regardless though, there are many of us non irish who love irish music and dance, whatever it's origins.;)0

[@weeardguy]

Oh you can be sure about that ;) I'm an Irish dancer myself and I'm as Dutch as can be ;) (about the dancing: nowhere near the level in this documentary ;) )

[@TheWrensHouse]

Irish dance is of the music...look up Sean nos.....not Celtic, not Gaelic and not Scottish.. Irish! comes from the spirit of gathering and celebration..

[@GuidaMopazan]

Back in the 1970/80s I had the opportunity to compete in the world championships several times. IMHO the wigs look stupid and the quality of the dancing is not what it used to be.

[@shekeyra100]

whati noticed again at 2012 worlds was no boys and no irish won

[@debbierodden550]

For god sake the wigs and dresses are not stupid some irish dancers wear them because of tradition i think the dresses are beautiful for the people who slag of irish dancers because of the wigs and dresses then its your problem

[@paulinemegson8519]

No one is slagging the dancers if they dislike the damn wigs. The wigs ARE ridiculous. And there is tradition and there is fashion. The wigs are fashion, traditionally a Colleen that was dancing would have her hair loose. How natural hair can even be compared to a huge, curled to within an inch of its life helmet of artificial hair is beyond me.

[@scoutz0rs]

Tiny skirts and drop waist dresses covered in leopard print are not tradition lol they’re just ugly. I see too many kids with legs tanned nearly black, and more bronzer than a kardashian. If it won’t change, then we as an irish dance community need to accept that the competition look is truly garish. Because it is.

[@HunterstonB]

It's going the way of ballroom dance. . . . . . .dumbo dancers, and most of the competitors are dumbo dancers, can't follow the music or improvise to the music. Irish - and Scots Gaelic dance was orgininally about improvising to music, most dancers were in the 19th century were pipers, It's the triumph of physical ability over musical awarenees. . . . .its utterly destruction of the orignal form and purpose of the original dance. Type in Margie Beaton into KZbin to see what it should look like

[@raachaell]

Andrew Stone World class Ballroom dancers are certainly not dumb, and to say they can't follow music is very untrue.

[@HunterstonB]

Rachael Sweet A total inability to hear musical structure is an essential requirement of 'world class ballroom dancers' - you need to be completely musically deaf. Only about 1 in 10 people are musically literate. . . . . and that includes dancers.

[@HunterstonB]

Rachael Sweet And what do you know about syncopation and polyrhytm in dance and how to follow it in your dancing?

[@raachaell]

Andrew Stone Clearly absolutely nothing. I though having danced Irish for 12 years now would have given me some ear for beat but apparently not. My apologies.

[@HunterstonB]

Rachael Sweet 'An ear for beat' is not an ear for rhythm, syncopation, polyrhythm or phrasing.