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?

Irish dancing is a tradition but it has unfortunately become commercialised and Americanised in the last number of years. It's not a pageant though, regardless of perceived attempts to make it appear as such.

There is alot of skill involved, very talented dancers and it is still a beautiful pastime but the tan/sparkles are completely unnecessary.

The traditional way is the best - I try to ignore the rest!

Interesting post, lima!

Whole thread actually. Though I didn't get the telephone box joke until it was pointed out either I get it now

Silly question, but Scottish and Highland are different aren't they? I was wondering how they differ. Very ignorant question I realise. Apparently people often confuse the two.

Scottish and highland are totally different but often confused. Scottish country dancing is danced at ceilidhs and weddings etc and is more a social thing (although I'm sure there are comps). Often taught in schools in pe and danced in couples or groups.
Highland is more competitive and nearly all the dances are solo. Each dance has its own set of steps. Traditionally it was danced by men but there's not that many men do it now! Having done it for many years myself I would obviously disagree that it's dull but each to their own! I can also def say there's a lot more to it than hopping from one foot to the other-if only it was that easy!

Thanks again! I love it, it looks quite balletic I think (just watching on you tube again)

augustbody - those really were the days!

I danced for 15 years and made some of the best friends and memories along the way. I wore the wig, the tan, the bling etc - it was all part and parcel and completely normal to me then. It honestly is like living in a different world. I thought nothing of going to a Feis on a Saturday and going in to school with the brownest legs and the whitest face!

Now I realise the time, effort and expense my parents must have put in - I was so ungrateful! Flying to Ireland for the day to come home with a dress costing £1500+ and thinking nothing of it! It was bloody hard work and I had to put a lot of time and effort in to get to the standard I was at - sacrificing the "normal" teenage social life to go to class instead. The dedication of these dancers is second to none but it has gone and continues to go to the extreme, make up/tan/bling wise.

What has this to do with Ireland?

The traditional ballet dress is a poofy pink dress, for no reason I know of, but that's how it is. Since ballet is not native to any country I know of, I just accept that.

But ... Irish dancing, as a clueless German, I would expect to be somewhat Irish. You know, because of the name.

As someone else pointed out, Irish people tend to be on the pale side, so why the tanned legs?

Also, I am pretty sure blinky polyester dresses don't have a long tradition in Ireland, either.

Perhaps curly hair has, but that'd be the only thing, then.

They don't just wear tan and dresses, they also do dancing. Irish dancing. It's not all that confusing, really.

Er, the dancing is the traditional part.

But ... Irish dancing, as a clueless German, I would expect to be somewhat Irish. You know, because of the name.

Agree there's the dance style. Also, Vestal, look up the Irish national costume, some of the Irish dance dresses are not too dissimilar, many are shorter (shorter for ability to dance as they do), blingier versions, but you can still see similarities to the national costume I think

But with all due respect vesta the problem isn't the dance, it's that you don't know anything about Irish tradition. Which of course why would you, but it does seem odd to question it in that case!