Three years ago, a random Instagram ad for a free trial session for a local Irish Dance School caught my eye. Irish Dancing? Isn’t that Michal Flatley and the Riverdance crew? I was trying to remember one Eurovision many moons ago …
Given the history between the British and the Irish, I admit, I had a moment’s hesitation. I remember vividly my year abroad at university when we made friends with two wonderful Irish girls, who were great fun to hang out with and I am still in touch with. But they would periodically remind us of our dark history and ‘800 years of subjugation’ when they got drunk.
Additionally, despite being British and living in Germany, neither country traditionally associated with Irish dancing, we decided to give it a chance.
My then 6-year-old daughter didn’t have a clue what I was talking about but agreed to go along, as long as I could sit in and watch her trial class. So off we went, and I managed to rope in a friend of hers to come along, which also turned out to be brilliant, as they both decided they wanted to learn together.
Fast forward three years and she looks forward to class every week. This is a big change from the moments when she really, really did not want to go and I had to coax, bribe and beg her, promising we could cancel at the end of the contract if she still didn’t want to continue. Like any skill, you have to practise and persevere even when you don’t want to and don’t feel like you’ll ever improve. With some gentle nudging, she pushed through, even attending summer camp to improve faster. I know her well and if I let her give up everything at the first hurdle, she wouldn’t do anything, and I am so proud of how she went for it and came out the other side — with a big smile.
She has since taken part in her first Feis (a traditional Irish dancing competition) and is now preparing for her first Grade Exams in the summer. Recently, she was part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Munich, the largest in Europe, where she not only participated in the parade, but also danced on stage.
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Additional funny story: I had to meet her backstage immediately after her performance so she could watch the rest of her school perform. I was not allowed backstage this year (unlike in previous years) and an older gentleman was standing at the entrance to the backstage area with a long queue in front of him. While I was trying to see where my daughter was, he looked at me and asked rather pointedly: ‘Do you have a phone?’ I answered ‘Umm, yes, here,’ as I took out my phone. He then proceeded to ask me for a photo (or so it seemed). I obliged, wondering what on earth was going on. Then the next person in the queue held out a piece of paper and asked if he could possibly sign as Sean Sherrard (cue more confusion, who on earth is Sean Sherrard?). The older gentleman replies: ‘No, I can only sign Johnny Logan.’ So I collected my daughter and returned laughing to our group to tell the story. Turns out he’d been on stage before the dance school went on. Who knew?
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My daughter has truly found her element in Irish Dancing, something that makes me so happy after she gave up the piano, basketball and football (nothing wrong with trying and giving up things). You can see the sheer joy on her face when she is on stage, dancing in front of thousands of people. Despite her social anxiety, my daughter has also found joy in singing in a choir. Surprisingly, she also blossoms performing in concerts, her confidence shining through as she shares her love for music with the audience.
Background on Munich St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Munich St. Patrick’s Day Parade, first held in 1996, was organized by a group of Irish expatriates and their friends. Initially planned for 200 participants, the event attracted an astonishing 3,000 people. From then on, it became clear: the parade in honour of the Irish national saint would become an annual tradition in Munich. Every year thousands of people take part in the parade, and equal amounts watch, with stages showcasing dancing, live music and much more. There are plenty of food and drinks stalls, and — as long as it’s not freezing cold raining — it’s a wonderful early spring celebration.
What on Earth is Irish Dancing?
Irish dancing is a unique form of dance characterized by its rapid leg and foot movements, often performed in intricate patterns. It’s a dance form that’s mostly focused on the legs, with the upper body kept straight and arms held rigidly at the sides. Dancers typically wear either soft shoes, called ghillies, or hard shoes, also known as heavy shoes. My daughter has recently progressed to hard shoes, and I can hear her clip-clopping up the stairs from class when she’s done.
Irish dancing gained global fame with Riverdance, a show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler, Michael Flatley, and the vocal ensemble Anúna. Riverdance and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance toured the world, captivating audiences with their stunning performances and bringing Irish dance to the forefront of international attention. To this day, they continue to tour, inspiring countless dancers worldwide.
Irish dance competitions, known as Feiseanna, attract troupes from all around the world. It’s not solely for Irish or those based in Ireland or even Europe. Dancers from all backgrounds and nationalities come together to compete, showcasing their skill, passion, and dedication to this rich tradition.
Getting hold of traditional costumes and shoes hasn’t always been easy, but thanks to the small but tight-knit community here, there’s always someone selling shoes that their child has outgrown.
My daughter now even practices at home without being asked (mostly), although she can only practice outside in her hard shoes; otherwise, she’ll damage our wooden floors. I am so proud that she has found her ‘thing’ and she proudly tells people when she meets them and is often happy to give them a little dance. Doing something that’s not super mainstream but has an amazing community and rich history is pretty special.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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Photo credit: Daria Trofimova on Unsplash
