#irish stepdancing

[resistandfight]

Imagine your otp as an Irish stepdancer and a tap dancer who get into a dance off over which style is better.

[thebluebirdbside]

  The St. Patrick's Day Wrap-Up Concludes!

    Since we've been talking about my own history with Irish Stepdancing today (I Was a Teenage Irish Stepdancer!), I thought it important that we take a look at the next contenders shaping the future of Irish Dancing in the next twenty years.

  Of course, the biggest contender so far is Up & Over It, who go way past testing the contemporary choreography potential of Irish Stepdancing and into the conceptual exploration of the idea of dance itself.

  While many of the younger groups we've seen so far love to explore the symbolic themes of darkness, the three members of Up & Over It dig into dark experiences. Dancer-choreographers Suzanne Cleary, Peter Harding, and filmmaker Jonny Reed examine Irish Dancing at its point of great change— the Michael Flatley years— an area where they are extremely knowledgeable.

  World champions both, these two dance talents have ten years apiece of Irish Dance show-tour experience from which to draw some pretty heady themes.

  Much of what they're exploring right now is dark-humored and experimental, but as you'll see for yourself— the work is never expected nor boring.

  I'm quite excited about watching their work develop over time, and I think this spare, sunlit short film shows off all three members' talents at the beginning of their next big phase.

[thebluebirdbside]

  The St. Patrick's Day Wrap-Up!

Since we've been talking about my own history with Irish Stepdancing today (I Was a Teenage Irish Stepdancer!), I thought it important that we take a look at the next contenders shaping the future of Irish Dancing in the next twenty years.

  Here's the first contender. Get used to seeing these gents from TapTronic, part of the flourishing modern Irish Dance movmement.

  While the steps and configuration here are fairly routine for contemporary Irish show dancing contemporary styles,  at 01:32, the rhythmic pattern of the steps take an unexpected direction.  Just watch. 

[sailormurkury]

Rewind to 1995,a 5 year old me sees this program on WTTW Channel 11 (Chicago's PBS) called "Riverdance" starring Jean Butler and Michael Flatley. It was an Irish Step Dancing show that was taking the world by storm.  My entire family was captivated, as was I.

Through dance, this show gave a glimpse into history of the Irish, their Immigration to the U.S. during the Great Famine in the 19th Century, and other cultures they encountered here. Showcasing the Black, Russian, and Latinx communities and the magic that happens when cultures meet in dance and song.

The latter portion of the show tells of Irish Americans of the late 20th century and their return to their Home and Heartland.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

[weonlydoitforthescarsandstories]

Is mise an damhsóir.

An damhsa Gaelach go brách.

[weonlydoitforthescarsandstories]

nothing reinforces feeling how insufficient you are at irish stepdancing like watching a tlc special about the people who make it to worlds that are absolutely ridiculous.

[boston]

Salem Irish dancers to compete for World Championships in Belfast

- This St. Patrick's Day, keep an eye out for some of the world's best Irish dancers here on the North Shore. Dancers from the Bremer School of Irish Dance in Salem will be performing locally to celebrate the holiday and six Bremer students will head to the World Championships in Belfast, Ireland.

[the--modern--leper]

2) A random piece of information about me.

I am an avid Irish stepdancer!

Since I was eight years old, I've been rocking the art of Irish dance. Though I've stopped performing with a group on a regular basis, St. Patrick's Day continues to be a time where I showcase my skills, and I'll always keep it with me.