Irish Dance Research Paper

I started dancing when I was 8 years old with the Shanahan School of Irish Dance in Columbus, Ohio. Peggy Shanahan, my first teacher her son played baseball with my brother, so when my she and my parents became friends and she asked if I wanted to start dance lessons, free for boys for a year, my response was Dzsure!dzI had at the time absolutely no knowledge of what Irish dance was, and at the time questioned it as to how or why it was even a thing. My first class, I heard Peggy shout out DzGood Myles that’s itdz while we learned skip 2, 3s. I didn’t even know I was doing all that good, but hearing Peggy say that made me know I wanted to never stop hearing that from anybody in any situation. Over the years I would have two boys with me in class, both older and both at different stages of my dance career. They weren’t really

Native American art forms have been dwindling in the past few years. Even though they have been decreasing, some tribes gather still to continue traditions. Art forms such as dance, pottery, and weaving have been passed down from generation to generation. There are many different types of dances including war dances, grass dances, and rain dances. Each dance has its own meaning and represents something unique. Native American dance is a creative way to tell a story, share values, pass down traditions, and communicate traditions of their ancestors in the 21st century.

Irish step dancing has existed since the 1700’s, over 300 years. Families in Ireland have passed down Irish step dance from generation to generation as a way of preserving their culture. While the meaning of the dance remains the same, the performance and showmanship has changed dramatically. From girls and boys with pale skin and natural hair to girls with fake tanned skin, huge curly wigs, and thousand dollar dresses and boys with fake tanned skin and outlandish outfits. Irish dance has become more of a spectacle—such as “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance.” Those dances are some of the most enjoyable and respected around the world. Over time this type of dance has taken on a life of its own and changed

I had just moved to Washington state and I auditioned for the local dance studio’s competition team for fun. I had no idea how talented they were. And I was just an untrained recreational dancer…Not surprisingly, I didn’t earn a coveted spot on the team it the first time I auditioned. That didn’t stop me from training seriously and auditioning for the team each year until I made it. And here I stand, now starting on my sixth year on the team and as one of the last people from my original team who decided not to quit when they started high school. Dance isn’t just twirling around in pretty pink tutus. What the general population doesn’t picture when they think of dance is the tremendous amount of strenuous work and the blood and sweat and tears that goes into every performance and competition. Certain dancers can’t handle it and quit when they realize they don’t have the passion. My passion keeps me living and breathing and most importantly, dancing, when times get

In the Renaissance time, there were ways to express yourself such as music, dance, and painting. I chose to write about how people would express themselves using dance. There were many different types of dances as well as a lot of interesting history and interesting meanings behind the way they would dance.

While traditional Irish dance is fascinating, I find competitive Irish dance even more intriguing. There are two main types of Irish competition, Feis, local competitions, and the World Championships. Irish dance competitions are a fun and thrilling experience, however, at the basis of these competitions lies the competitive piece of the puzzle. I believe competitive Irish dance can be compared to any modern day sport. These competitions are used as a social event for the community but underlie a driven focus. Although there are many negative connotations associated with competitive dance, the participants are given an opportunity full of benefits and cultural awareness. Alana Bracken expresses, “Though no monetary reward is ever on the line, the Irish dance world values the hard work and showmanship its dancers require, making every title - regional, national or global - one highly coveted” (Bracken 1). This quote embodies the competitive Irish dancer. You must be motivated and diligent to make it in the world of Competitive Irish Dance.

important to me. It breeds both discipline and creativity. There is a never ending well of knowledge that can be accumulated within the wall of a dance studio. It is extremely easy to lose yourself in dance, I truly have an unconditional love for it. I am strong and I am confident because if dance. I feel inspired and I feel loved because of dance. All positive traits in myself, I can relate back to dance. Dance has continued to engage me for almost fifteen years because it is my saving grace in life. I am eternally grateful to this lifestyle and art that both I have created and has created

Whether it's competitive dancing or just goofing around with some dance moves at home, it brings great joy into my life. My favorite part about dancing is performing on stage. On stage performance, in front of hundreds of people, gives you a high like no other. Showing others what you are capable of achieving, your undeniable talent, and expressing yourself is the sole purpose of it. Walking on stage, knowing everyone's eyes are on you, is slightly nerve racking. Although once you start dancing, it's almost like the crowd disappears and it's just you in an empty auditorium doing what you absolutely love. The rush you get on stage is something you will remember for a lifetime. Dancing has changed my life for the better. It has helped me form into a confident young women that has an abundance of talent that is worth sharing. Dancing acts like a crutch in my life, through the bad and the good it is always there as an alternative way of creating my own happiness and keeping me afloat through all the hardships life will ever throw at me. Dancing has made me bullet proof. I am strong, confident, and ready to make my mark on the world through my profession of choice,

Throughout our lives from birth to death, we learn valuable lessons that go hand-in-hand with each other. These lessons, no matter how big or small, effect who we are and how we perform in our day to day lives. Out of all the events in my life that stick out as major life lessons learned, one in particular stands out to me the most: the art of dance. Dance has taught me to stay motivated even when the future seems dull.

Are you looking to try a new hobby? How about trying dance? Dance has many benefits such as being a good form of exercise, and being good for the mind. If you are a picky person then dance is perfect for you , as there are many types of dance. If you want a dance class which is more chill and doesn’t require perfection you should try out hip hop. Hip Hop also known as street dance , is a type of dance that is done to rapping songs. Hip Hop is a fast paced dance that requires being able to move the hips and ribcage. Some songs that would be recommended to dance to hip hop would be “Cheerleader,” “Where are you now,” “Whip/Nae Nae.” The clothes for hip hop would usually be loose clothing and wearing Converse or Vans. The next type of

Before I went to dance that day I felt so bored like I would just dance forever, but that would change. My whole family ate supper, and then I had to go to dance class. I was in first grade at the time. My dad took me to dance class that night. I went in and was getting ready for class when I heard my friend talk about how her sister used to do cheer. I asked her more about it. She said, "They do tumbling, stunting, and a little dancing at the end." It sounded so fun, I was so interested in cheer. I couldn’t wait to tell my parents about cheer! If I wouldn't have told them about cheer, they probably would have never known or let me do it. But, they let me do cheer, and I was so happy. I was so grateful that my mom and dad let me do cheer, because it costed a lot of money.

I agree with the judges’ decision with the best couple of the week being Laurie Hernandez and her partner. In her performance, there was an actual connection between her partner and herself. She was in sync with her dance instructor and she had a flow with the routine, I personally believe her experience as a gymnast performer gives her the moves and flexibility to be the dancer to beat this season. Hernandez’s moves were sharply executed and I feel she has developed a relationship with her instructor that has reflected in their tempo and rhythm as one. I noticed that unlike most of the contestant’s in Monday’s performance, her body was not stiff, and she would flow from one move to the next, rather than look like a robot. The dancing felt genuine, and nothing felt forced about the body movements.

By being an athlete I learned of perseverance and not quitting when times simply get tough. This motivation affected me in other aspects of my life such as not wanting to quit after the first rough day of work, not wanting to quit after getting a C in a class,and not wanting to quit when there are other saxophone players who are more skilled than me. Dance has given me the chance to explore my physical abilities and open up the rest of my life to facing challenges I never thought I could overcome myself. Being a dancer has taught me that

In the process of this research, I discovered that Irish dancing not only plays a significant role in reshaping Irish national identity, but also affects families and dancers on a personal level, affecting self-perception and development. Each person interviewed has a personal story. The reasons people have connected to Irish dancing vary, based on cultural tradition, heritage, location, values, and personal goals.

When I hear the words “The Gaelic League”, I automatically think of the period when the Irish language was restored in Ireland. I agree with the above statement. The Gaelic League influenced the promotion of the Irish dance tradition greatly in the 20th century as dance was very important. It was a massive part of Irish culture and it maintained Irish identity. It was founded by O’Growney and Douglas Hyde in 1893. It established an agency called “An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha” (the commission for Irish dances) in 1930. It was set up to promote and standardize Irish traditional group dancing and solo step-dancing. It organised classes, festivals and competitions. An Coimisiun is still around today. In this essay, I will discuss the impact the Gaelic League had on Irish dance, how it spread from Ireland and became global and how it is still very popular today.