RTÉ Factual's new 3-part series Secrets brings us behind the scenes of familiar areas of Irish life and puts us into the shoes of some remarkable people.
The series delves into the world of dancers in Secrets from the Dancefloor, sports coaches in Secrets from the Sidelines and delivery drivers in Secrets of a Delivery Driver.
The first episode, Secrets from the Dancefloor, explores our passion for dance, and we meet those whose lives are enriched by it - Rebecca Hart and Eoin Sexton jived their way into each other hearts at a weekly dance class in Copper Face Jacks, and are now busy preparing for marriage and parenthood.
For dance teacher, Declan Roche, getting back out on the floor helped him cope with his grief after the sudden death of his brother Colm, and for Roscommon man Conor McDermott, dance classes became a much-needed social outlet after moving to Dublin.
Dancing can be purely for fitness and fun, but there are those who take it to another level. For 13-year-old Freya Roche from Wicklow, ballroom dancing is her happy place, "I don’t know what my life would be without it," she smiles. Training 4 to 5 times a week Freya achieved the All-Ireland ballroom dancing title in 2022. "I’m blow away watching her," says her mother Carla proudly. "She’s very quiet, she’s very shy, she wouldn’t have a lot of confidence, but when she dances, she says that dancing just changes her completely."
Freya was diagnosed with dyspraxia, which can negatively affect coordination, but medical professionals are astounded at her achievements. Carla explains, "They said it’s normally unheard of for a child to do what Freya’s doing and to compete at the level she is competing at. They couldn’t believe it."
This year Freya competes to defend her All Ireland dancing title. She’s trained hard and is feeling the pressure but is very mature in her outlook, "I enjoy doing what I’m doing and that’s all that matters."
Almost 90 years older than Freya, at an amazing 103 years old, James McManus, originally from Scotland, is also an avid ballroom dancer. "I wouldn’t get on Strictly Come Dancing or anything like that," he laughs. He began his love affair with dancing at the age of 16 but was soon drafted into the British Army during WW11, putting the kibosh on his newly found passion. He was able to pick it up again as the war was ending, "We got the job of staying in Germany as the occupation army. That was the best part of the whole thing, it was like a holiday then. They would organise ballroom dancing. They would invite as many ladies as they could, they’d have a band, and we’d dance with them. It was good fun that," he smiles.
After travelling the world, James met the love of his life, Patsy, at a singles’ dance class in Plymouth. "We were always the first on the floor and the last to come off it," he recalls, "We were like two peas in a pod." After a holiday to Ireland, they decided to move here, and settled in Slieverue, County Kilkenny, where they joyously danced through the rest of their life together. "Every day we were dancing somewhere, if it wasn’t in the house, it’d be out on the street. Even when we were walking the dog we were dancing in the street," James chuckles. Patsy sadly passed away from cancer in the late 90’s but James has kept their love of dance alive.
James now lives for his tango and ballroom classes once or twice a week, keeping him physically and socially active, "Everybody’s friendly, it’s like a family almost." He credits dancing as one of the reasons he has lived to such a great age, and he has no intention of ever giving it up. "The day I do that, I’ll be in a coffin."
Secrets from the Dancefloor, RTÉ 1, Monday, Oct 2nd at 9.35 - catch up via RTÉ Player
