Aibu to think Irish dancing is just another pageant

[LemonDrizzleDisco]

With the sparkles,expensive dresses,wigs,tanned legs,make up.

What happened to the traditional look?

Is the dancing itself in the higher levels more extreme nowadays? I've heard people talking about higher kicks and more flexibility needed, and many of the girls who are doing well also seem to do gymnastics.

I think it's a real shame. Would totally put me off letting my dd do it. She does highland and that comes with its own set of rules etc but nothing on this scale

It's put me off sending my DD completely. I think the wigs and make-up are absolutely grotesque.

Some people sell on their costumes or buy second hand, but those can still be several hundred pounds.

It would be a shame if it put people off.

Those dancers are really healthy and strong. They have muscles like steel. They are athletes. For that reason I think it's a good thing to do, despite the bling.

I agree it would be a shame.

I like the sound of highland dancing, but not much of it about, or more importantly any classes, that I could find. Only a couple of courses aimed at adults.

Highland dancers also have muscles like steel so very good for fitness. The Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing is the governing body and will probably be able to point you in the right direction Reuset-there's loads of classes in Scotland but maybe trickier to find elsewhere in U.K.

I find Highland dancing really dull to watch..And I live in Scotland so don't bother flaming me. It seem to be mostly hands on hips/hands over head, and hop from foot to foot. I get how physically difficult it is - my friend is a Highland Dance judge at International level - but it just doesn't do it for me.

Thank you weeM.

Agree it is really tacky.

We have a phone box round here which has been acquired as an "arts centre" - we were all coming up with ideas and someone suggested Irish Dancing - which cracked me up (as they say)!!

There is no bling here -

All top class, actually WORLD class Irish dancers.

The bling is not necessary and it was there long before Riverdance.

The dresses these days are fucking vile. And the little girls absolutely plastered in fake tan and make up is just horrid. When I was finishing up it was starting to get super blingy. In a way I would love DD to do it but really I just can't be arsed with the whole thing tbh.

My friend's son is about to compete at his first World Champs, the boy works so hard (and you should see his abs!) so no it isn't just a pageant. The look for the girls is ridiculous to my eyes though, but as I understand the wigs are required by the rules - they were introduced to "protect" girls from the things that were done to their hair otherwise. They're not allowed to have their own hair in ringlets anymore.

Bet the boy can wear black school trousers and a shirt, thus being judged on his dancing ability, not his looks or outfit. The girls work isn't as hard, but have additional "judging" to cope with

Girls work JUST as hard, that should say!

Absolutely demented, but we see that continuously in practically all walks of life. I wear heels with my suits while my male colleagues were sensible lace-ups. Female sprinters seem to think they need to run in their underwear, the men not so much. It's a much wider debate than Irish Dancing

DD'S best friend is at a really high level in Irish dancing. I've seen lots of pics of her competing and she's in traditional dress with no fake tan.

Boys plain black trousers and jacket I've seen, but only at lower levels. Not sure about elsewhere. I thought they'd have to wear a blingy waistcoat at least later on

😂😂😂😂 weedsknees1

What - but even in that video, the women are showing their midriffs.

My 3 kids do Irish dancing here in Ireland. A lot of the kids in their dancing school don't compete and just go to one lesson a week in the local hall. For those that do compete there are 5 different levels of competition. There are 3 beginner levels - A,B and C, and then 2 advanced levels - pre-open and open. You must win a dance in one level to progress to the next.
For dancers aged 10 and under you can only wear a class costume, which is your schools costume and these tend to be more traditional though the style has changed from when I danced 30 years ago. You still see some kids in the old style dress and they look so bulky and ill fitted compared to the modern style.
Once a child is over ten AND dancing in the advanced levels, they can wear the more blinged up expensive dresses, so you will never (in our organisation which is the largest) see young kids in the type of dresses the comments are based on here.
For my DD first 2 feises I curled her hair, the curls had fallen out and looked very messy by the time she danced so for her 3rd feis I bought a bun wig and never looked back. It takes a couple of mins to put in and her hair is perfect all day. I personally hate the full wigs, they are nasty. Thankfully the trend is now turning towards a very loose curl wig that looks more natural and way less garish.
Sock glue is a great, the poodle socks loose their elasticity after couple of washes and fall down which looks messy and annoys the kids as they can feel them siding down during the dance. My DD loves pulling the sock off after the feis!
Make up can only be worn on U13 so again you wont see kids with makeup on only the teenagers.
As for the bling on the dresses and the tanned legs - if you have ever been to an open feis you will see the amazing talent of these kids, they are highly trained athletes. The skill and stamina is honestly unbelievable. Unfortunately there are many kids who are fantastic dancers and the standard is so high. These kids train almost every day of the week for hours on end and put so much time, effort and money into it. They go to a feis where they are competing with maybe 60 other kids who are also brilliant. They have maybe 90 seconds in front of a judge and are dancing with 2 other kids at the same time. They need to stand out from the competition and bling attracts attention. Pale legs do not stand out. I hate to admit it because I was a fake tan hater. If you have 2 girls dancing side by side and one has white legs and one brown, the brown stands out more, especially against the white socks. Its easier to see the movement of the legs. Unfortunately the trend now is for mahogany tan, its awful, way too dark. I have a few times put some tan on my DD legs, but I use only the slightest bit just to take the pale glow off.
The girls love the bling and love showing off their new dresses. Competitive irish dancing isn't for the faint hearted, either for the dancer or the parents in terms of commitment and money, but it is also incredibly rewarding and a great community.
The bling isn't what Irish dancing is about. It has become a sport now, its way different from when I danced, the steps are far more challenging and complicated. There is more choreography and it really isn't the diddly iy stuff of 30 years ago.

Just saw the comments about the boys. My boys compete, one wears a white shirt and pink tie and black trousers, the other older lad wears black trousers, white shirt, pink cravat and pink and purple waistcoat complete with jewels!! (our school colours are pink and purple)

You still see some kids in the old style dress and they look so bulky and ill fitted compared to the modern style.

Yes I agree some of the very old dresses were very bulky, and also too long, and the crocheted collars were horrible as well, the high collars were nicer. I think the dresses from the mid nineties were the best - well fitted and short enough to see the legs, but not the awful drop waist monstrosities out there now.

*Agree it is really tacky.

We have a phone box round here which has been acquired as an "arts centre" - we were all coming up with ideas and someone suggested Irish Dancing - which cracked me up (as they say)!!*

How appalling, Marjorie. Just think, someone with an Irish name might have been in the vicinity bringing down house prices.

I think the joke about the phone box as that Irish dancers keep their arms by their sides so can dance in a very small space???? In theory. In which case, it's funny.