Extras

Hey all!

This is my last post here on our Irish step dancing blog! To wrap us up I just wanted to talk about a few interesting facts that slipped through the cracks or just didn’t fit into a particular category easily.

First off, Irish step dancing was performed to welcome royalty to Ireland…so clearly it was viewed very highly and of much importance to them and done with much excitement and happiness. Female dancers would line the shores and dance in a line to welcome the king or other high-ranked leader, saving the “best” act for last – the fast paced couples dancing. On the other end of things, step dancing was more than just a time of excitement and happiness – it was done during a time of sadness as well. During funerals circles were made around the coffin and would take soft slow-paced steps around it full of mourning.

As I mentioned in my previous post, dancing was done more in secrecy for a time period. Even the aristocrats in Ireland would hide it, however they would dance alongside their servants in the coziness of their own home.

These specific events are interesting to me because through everything the Irish found a way to incorporate step dancing into their heritage and culture. It is so clear how important and crucial this is dance is to them. They welcome it with happy hearts, they sway sorrowfully with it, and they are willing to dance these steps with any person, despite their class or heritage.

We could all learn a thing about the Irish and their dedication to their heritage and their willingness to share it with anyone who is willing to listen. It has been a great time getting to know Irish step dancing more and becoming more familiar with their culture with you all! So like the Irish in their dances…let’s make every step count!

Lauren C

Engel, Hallie. "Interesting Facts About Irish Step Dancing." Entertainment Guide. Demand Media. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. <http://entertainmentguide.local.com/interesting-irish-step-dancing-3205.html>.