The "heartbeat" of Riverdance

Among other things, music and dance have an enormous impact on what is called "cultural identity". Cultural identity is one aspect of how a person develops their sense of self, or in other words how the define who they are. In traditional Irish culture, music is one of the most highly regarded components of "being Irish". To illustrate this, music has often been referred to as the 'heartbeat' or 'pulse' of Ireland- inferring that music is essential to the life of an Irish person. This relation of music to a physical characteristic of a human body indicates that music and dance are not simply a hobby or a past-time, it's a way of life and a part of their identity that they would be incomplete without.

Traditional Irish music is usually about one thing- how beautiful Ireland is. Physically, Ireland is known for its green, lush landscapes and rocky shore lines. Much of Irish music is an expression of this beauty and how much it is loved. If an Irish song is not about how beautiful Ireland is, it is about other aspects of Irish culture or telling a story. There are many Irish stories/myths/legends that are passed down the generations through song. Some Irish music also refers to sadness, heart-ache, or hardships such as famine or losing a loved one. For the most part, Irish music is upbeat, fast and cheery music that people can dance to or sing along with and have fun.

I came across an interesting article (which I have cited below) that studied the effects of being a 2nd or 3rd generation Irish person who was born in England and how that affected their cultural identity. The article brought up the topic of authenticity; asking those who were not born in Ireland or don't have Irish accents or don't speak Gaelic can have such a strong connection with their Irish roots. I think this question relates back to my previous posts about Riverdance and it's authenticity to Irish tradition. The music used for Riverdance is based off of traditional Irish music with added instruments and embellishments to make it more "show-like" and dramatic. I believe that although the music used in Riverdance is not exactly the same as traditional Irish music, the fact that it is based off of it should be taken more as a compliment rather than an insult to Irish tradition. What do you all think?

Leonard, Marion. "Performing Identities: Music And Dance In The Irishcommunities Of Coventry And Liverpool." Social & Cultural Geography 6.4 (2005): 515-529. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.