I am one of those girls–the ones with the bouncy curls framing their face, freckles sprinkled across their nose as if carelessly strewn there by accident, and with the furious, flying feet. I am one of those girls you see dancing along a parade route on Saint Patrick’s Day (and that you will most likely see again at the end of the route, scuffing up the floor of the pub). I am one of those girls who stands up as straight as an arrow. I am a living, breathing piece of tradition. I am an athlete. I am a performer.
I am an Irish dancer, and I’d like to welcome you to my world. As it’s said in Gaelic: “céad mile fáilte,” or “a hundred thousand welcomes,” because one welcome will just simply not do.
Like most Irish dancers, I was first fascinated by Irish dance at a young age. All it took was a single, resounding rhythm, and that was it–the world of Irish dance had led me into its welcoming arms. Little did I know, I would still be firmly rooted in the chaotic, fast–paced, yet infinitely loving community of Irish dance 14 years later, and I know now that I never, ever want to leave.
Irish dance has taken my body, my personality, and my own, personal viewpoints of life, and sculpted them all into what they are today. There are so many qualities about the world of Irish dance that have made me who I am, and after endlessly searching for them in other areas of life, I have reached this conviction. Being one of those graceful, powerful Irish dancers has taught me so many lessons. Yes, about dancing, fitness, and Irish culture, but also essential lessons of life.
Growing up as an Irish dancer, I was never self-conscious about my weight, or about my body type. While Irish dance does require a certain grace similar to that of a ballerina, it also requires strong muscles to make those powerful rhythms ring around the room. Walking around a competition, called a “feis” in Gaelic, made me realize that if there were one part of my body that I felt self-conscious about, it was my calves not being large or muscular enough. This emphasis placed on strength, rather than thinness, really helped me cultivate both a positive body image and a confident attitude. My individual body type actually helped me to create my own incomparable style of dancing. Therefore, Irish dance has taught me to value my differences, rather than trying to strive for sameness. To quote my dance teacher, “You cannot be outstanding without first standing out.”
While I usually felt comfortable in my own skin, confidence in my dancing took a long time to build up, and it's something I'm still working on. In the world of Irish dance, there is no sugarcoating. There is no certificate for showing up, no ribbon for participating, and no medal for trying. You can try your hardest, and, well, still fail miserably. If I was ever not dancing the way that my teachers wanted me to, I definitely heard about it, both from them and from judges at competitions. While this could be extremely frustrating at times, it also means that their compliments carry so much more weight, and I know exactly when I am dancing my best, or when I just need to grit my teeth and push myself harder. Looking back on it now, I have seen that growing up as an Irish dancer has made my skin a little thicker, and has taught me to value honesty, even when the truth isn’t always what we want to hear.
Finally, growing up as an Irish dancer taught me how to put my heart into everything that I do. Those Irish dancers that are truly great, that are truly a magnet for the gaze, are not great because of their technique alone. They are truly remarkable because of their passion. Once I learned how to dance not only with my legs, but with my heart as well, the world became my stage. I've learned, thanks to Irish dance, that with fiery passion and fierce dedication, I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to. Just as devotion to dancing reaches far beyond the edges of the dance floor, what I have learned growing up as an Irish dancer endures far beyond the edge of the stage. As I find my way in the world today, I know that I will always have these principal values of Irish dance guiding me at my very core.
