The biggest event in the dancing calendar, the World Championships of Irish Dancing takes place Dublin.
UCD (University College Dublin) is the venue for this year's World Championships in Irish Dancing.
The competition will draw more than 3,000 dancers and their supporters here over the next nine days. The young dancers have spent hours practicing their steps, and now their mothers spend hours getting them ready for the stage.
For starters, the hair, makeup, and fake tan must be just right, and then there is the dress, shoes and headbands. Starting at £350 per dress, many parents pay more. This can be an expensive hobby but according to Clare McCole from Donegal, it is worth it if a child really enjoys the participation.
The glitz and glamour of Irish dancing dresses put them in a class of their own. Norma Bergin of Kilkenny based Threads of Green says what they create is down to customer demand, and influenced by teachers and the parents.
Founder of the World Championships Maitiú Ó Maoiléidigh does not approve of how Irish dancing costumes have evolved over the years, and adjudicates on the performance.
I look at the dancer.
The subject of dancing costumes is to be debated at next week’s annual convention of Irish dancing teachers. Olive Hurley from the Irish Dancing Commission believes it is time for rules to govern costumes, because,
Some of them look like Christmas trees.
Riverdance has been influencing costumes, not least for boys. Michael Walsh, who has come all the way from Australia and who is used to dancing in a much hotter climate, wears a shirt and trousers for dancing.
It was not comfortable in a kilt.
Many of the dancers in Riverdance have competed at World Championship level, Jean Butler and Michael Flatley among them. The latter now believes that it is time for exhibition dancing to advance to another level, and now is the time to,
Stretch the boundaries
Cormac O’Shea, who is currently dancing with Riverdance, says that their steps are the same, but
Done very effectively and very well.
The show has inspired adults and children to take up Irish dancing, something Olive Hurley is very pleased to see and she feels it has done wonderful things for dancing.
This report for 'Nationwide’ was broadcast on 3 April 1996. The reporter is Anne Marie Smyth.
'Nationwide' is an early evening magazine programme that brings Irish viewers an eclectic round-up of news, views and events from around the country.
