 Though the Trinity College Harp is often said to be Brian Boru’s own, it more likely dates from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. The Harp If you asked the average person on the street the national symbol of Ireland, 99% of people are probably going to guess the shamrock. It’s for good reason—when Saint Patrick came over from Wales (that’s right--Saint Patrick isn’t Irish!) to bring Christianity to the largely Pagan population of Ireland, he used a three-leaf shamrock to explain to holy trinity. And it’s not called the Emerald Isle for nothing--Ireland is more than 67% grasslands, making it the country with the highest proportion of natural vegetation in all of Europe. But the true national symbol of Ireland is something closer to the spirit of the Irish than the land: the harp. The Celtic/Gaelic Harp or “Cláirseach” (having its own origins differing from those of European/Diatonic Harp or older, less complex harps in ancient Egypt) is believed to be approximately 1,000 years old. Even though the unpredictability of Ireland’s tradition of oral history means it could be even older, there’s less than a dozen Irish harps remaining from before the 1700s, so our knowledge of the harp before this time is a bit light. What we do know is harpists were celebrated in ancient Ireland, and legend tells us that the last high king of Ireland, Brian Boru (who died in 1014,) loved the harp so much that his son is said to have presented his father’s beloved instrument to the Pope as a sign of respect.  Click on the image to see and hear Michelle Mulcahy perform traditional music on a Celtic harp, c. 2006 With the Irish love of music (that’s so closely tied to the love of dance,) it’s no surprise that the harp makes an appearance all over Irish historical annuals. A document dating from 12th century Ireland implies that the harp was the only music played during the Crusades, and we know the harp was so revered all over Europe that most monarchs and lords had a resident “Master Harper/Harpist.” As Christianity made its way to Ireland, the harp came to represent biblical King David and the symbol can be found all over early stone crosses, reflecting the status of musicians at the time. Harpists can be found all over art from these earlier time periods as well, from courtly and pastoral scenes to battlefield depictions. The harp was so recognized as a part of Irish culture that the 1700s saw the British begin to oppress the use and production of the instrument, as well as travel for musicians. As there’s nothing more quintessentially Irish than rebelling against a controlling faction, we have this oppression to thank for what surviving Celtic harp music we have today. By the end of the 18th century, the ancient Gaelic harp was nearly extinct, and if not for the efforts of a musician named Edward Bunting, it may have been lost forever. In 1792 Bunting lured as many harpists as possible to Belfast, where he recorded their terminology and as much of their traditional music as possible—without him there’d likely be nothing left!  The Society of United Irishmen’s flag captures the Irish spirit. But even while the harp might not be as common as it once was in Ireland, the symbol remains. The image of the Irish harp are featured on numerous items all over Ireland, including: the presidential seal, the royal coat of arms (which Henry VIII chose for Ireland himself when he declared himself King of Ireland in 1531,) Irish Euro coins, countless official documents, and as a logos for many prominent state-supported groups. Before 1922, when the Irish Free State officially adopted the current tri-color flag we all know, the Irish flag was a gold harp on a green background (as early as 1642!) It’s also a symbol that many a business chooses to denotes their essential Irishness: Guinness is, of course, the first one that comes to mind (though their harp is backward,) but there’s also innumerable pubs across the world and budget Irish airline Ryan Air!
But besides Ireland’s love of music, what has the harp come to symbolize? While it’s use on the Irish royal coat of arms means the harp is often associated with royalty, it is more closely associated with the Irish fight for a free state that goes back hundreds of years. Notably, The Society of United Irishmen, a political organization aimed at achieving Irish independence, even took on the harp as their flag with the motto: “Equality: It is now strung and shall be heard.” Many versions of the harp flag appeared over time before the uniting nature of the tri-color (the green representing Roman Catholics, the gold Protestants, and the white between them the hope for lasting peace.) While it might not be as emerald as a shamrock, the harp as Ireland’s national symbol seems more fitting—it’s come to represent the rebellious and proud spirit we still associate with Ireland to this day. This is Volume II of a series. Read Volume I, about the history of Irish Halloween, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.
0 Comments
For Your Competitor Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a child in your life who loves to dance, wiggle, or move? Our taster session will give them the gift of dance! This week on our Irish dancer gift guide, we’re concentrating on a different group of dancers: the feis enthusiasts! Is your dancer laser-focused on perfecting their moves before the next feis? Do they love moving up through the levels? Are you running out of places to put their ribbons? Then this is the guide is for you. And though you’ll find some bigger business links throughout, we’ve tried our best to uplift small businesses in the Irish dance community wherever possible and we hope you’ll join us in that goal! (Fun note: most of the items are customizable with SRL’s colors!)  1. Ribbon Hangers This one’s a no-brainer for the dancer who has more feis ribbons than they know what to do with—who doesn’t need more organizational options in their life? There’s more options for these than I could possibly post here, so there’s an option to fit every dancer’s style. (And, if your dancer is more about dancing recreationally—or just younger—they make a pretty cute jewelry or coat hanger as well!) Additional Options: Dancing Girl Ribbon Hanger Personalized Hanger Comes in a Variety of Sizes  2. Shoe Bags One pair of ghillies looks like every other pair of ghillies—so help your dancer come home with her own shoes with these personalized Irish dance shoe bags! Beyond that obvious benefit, this will keep whatever they stepped in from getting anywhere near the rest of their things, as well as protect those expensive shoes. Additional Options: Personalized Dance Shoe Bag Ghillie-Shaped Bag Backpack Option  3. Water Bottles Almost everything in this post is able to be personalized, and for good reason—many kids and teens aren’t always the most careful with their personal belongings. These days, a personalized water bottle is more than a cute present, it’s a safety measure that will help your dancer steer clear of cross-contamination with their friends (or someone else with a blue water bottle.) The option pictured comes in a variety of fonts and colors, and there’s even male and female dancer decals you can add! Additional Options: Personalized Bottle with Shoes Lidded Cup with Straw Sport Top  4. Makeup Bags Get your little treble maker something to keep false lashes and stage makeup in! Makeup bags run in that same realm of avoiding any cross contamination with friends, while also ensuring your dancer comes home with their own belongings. They can also be used as regular makeup bags, pencil cases, or general carryalls for those who prefer not get under those bright lights. Additional Options: “Feis Face” Bag “Hard Work Beats Lazy Talent” Bag “Eat, Sleep, Dance, Repeat” Bag  5. Custom Competition Mask and Tiara This gift idea goes the extra mile and really embraces the reality of all the 2020 feiseanna. This Etsy seller will work with you to create two pieces that matches your dancer’s costume perfectly, along with a coordinating wrist band to hold the mask! Not many people do this kind of specialty work, so below I’ve linked a few fun hair accessories (for practice days,) instead. Additional Options: Personalized Headband Ghillie Hair Bows Sequined “Dance” Shamrock Headband  6. Dress Bags
Those competition dresses have all kinds of embellishments and can be pretty pricey—might as well make sure they’re well protected! Note the “lemon wedge” shape, perfect for keeping that full skirt as neat as when it was hanging in the closet. See below for a personalized garment bag versus dress bag—perfect for our male dancers’ costumes! Additional Options: With Matching Duffel Customizable Sizes with Claddagh Personalized Garment Bag This is Volume II of a series. Come back next Saturday for the next installment or read last week’s for some gift tips for our youngest dancers. And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Courtney Jay TCRG
Position: Director and Instructor, all levels How long have you been working at SRL? Why SRL? It was my dream to create SRL! Since I was 12 years old I knew I was going to own an Irish dance studio. While I did not fully comprehend what that meant at the time, I had files upon files of documents on my computer with all my plans and visions. Looking back, it is pretty incredible that I had an idea at a young age that I committed to and brought to life in adulthood. I opened SRL in 2014 when I was 22 years old and since then it has taken on a life of its own, much bigger and faster than my 12 year old self could have ever envisioned! My work at SRL includes the day to day operations, managing our team, teaching classes, protecting and executing the vision, and implementing business strategies to ensure we continue to grow and thrive. Everyday is different! What are you interested in that most people aren’t? Two things – competitive gymnastics (Elite and NCAA) and The Sims. Gymnastics is the only sport I’m interested in, and I can tell you in great detail what skills are being done while watching routines, about NCAA line ups, and watch every meet I can for both divisions. The Sims is something I indulge in during my VERY rare and sporadic moments of free time and I love to build things and get lost in my imaginary world. How long have you been dancing? Why Irish dance? I started Irish dance when I was six, after starting gymnastics and ballet as a two year old. I was really drawn to the quick movements and the driving music as a kid who was getting bored at the ballet barre. I begged my mom to let me switch to Irish for an entire summer before she agreed to sign me up, on the condition that I continued ballet. I was the kid who liked to quit everything, so I’m sure she wasn’t very confident I’d stick to Irish dance but here we are 23 years later! As I got more into Irish dance, the draw that has kept me after all this time is you’re never done learning. There is always something new to learn or create – movements that trend and work their way into our repertoire each year, new rhythms that come to you in your sleep, and different pieces you’re creating to showcase a particular dancer’s strengths. No matter how good you get at it, there is always something more you can do, improve, or learn! What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of? Why? I actually prefer to watch the same movies over and over again – my go to’s are: Any of the Harry Potter movies, Mean Girls, and Catch Me If You Can. I hate the process of picking something new to watch and wondering if I’ll like it, so I’m perfectly content to watch something tried and true. How has dance affected your everyday life? There aren’t very many areas of my life Irish dance hasn’t touched – my best friends and closest social circle is from Irish dancing. My oldest friends and I grew up dancing together elementary through high school and now we’re experiencing adulthood together. So many of my best experiences in life have been because of my involvement in Irish dancing – traveling the globe for competitions, attending events that have made me a better and stronger person, and building this business living out my dream career. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) Hawaii; if it wasn’t so far away and expensive, I would have already gone back. I really love the beach but there’s something about Hawaii that feels more magical and exotic than other beach destinations I frequent. Why do you think people dance? Ultimately I think it brings people joy – you get to move your body and release the endorphins that make you happy. Your mind gets to focus on something outside of the ‘everyday’ thoughts, worries, and stressors that we often get lost or caught up in. You are surrounded by people drawn to the same activity and have a common interest that bonds you. Going to dance class is like being surrounded in pure joy. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? For quite some time, I wanted to be an architect. Part of that may come from my love of the Sims, which I’ve played since it was released in 2000. I was always drawing floor plans on paper, building in the Sims, and then in high school took drafting and architecture classes. While it ultimately wasn’t for me, I’m glad I got to experience those classes before I needed to make college decisions. What advice do you have for aspiring dancers? It sounds cliché, but never give up. I was not naturally talented and Irish dance was not easy for me when I started. I struggled until I decided I wanted to get better at it, started practicing at home, and then eventually reaped the benefits. Even once I had success, there were still times where certain steps, dances, or competitions challenged me and required me to be patient and dig deeper. If I had given up early on or once I was frustrated for a period of time, I wouldn’t be where I am today! This post is part of a series. Read our Q&A with another instructor, Bailey, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  An Irish Dancer in the 1890s The Form If you had to ask someone who’s only seen competitive Irish dance once or twice in their life to describe it, the first things they mention are always going to be the same: 1) the footwork, 2) the distinctly rigid upper body, and 3) no arm movements. For the layman (or woman,) this is what makes Irish dance so clearly Irish dance when they compare it to other styles they’re familiar with. It’s not quite ballet or jazz or tap, but something unique and artful on its own terms…and it’s the lack of movement in the upper body that seem to distinguish it most clearly. This brings us to the question that people have been asking for at least the last 100 years: how did Irish dance end up with such a disparate and distinguishing form? What swirls around out there are plenty of rumors and hearsay—myths and stories. But what can we know for sure? The first issue with determining the form’s origins is that of Ireland’s oral tradition. Until the 1800s, we have very few recorded texts or notations of any dances that were performed. If you read the first three volumes (I, II, III) of this series, you know we only have the vaguest outline of Irish dance’s history, and what we do have speaks of bans, restrictions, and a variety of foreign influences over the years.  Irish Dancer Cassie O’Neill of Glenarm dances at a feis in 1904 The rumors that abound can’t be confirmed or denied and largely concentrate on the English suppression of the Irish and the constant religious upheavals that have plagued Ireland for centuries. One story tells of the Irish dancers who were brought to England to perform for Queen Elizabeth I: they refused to raise their arms to the foreign queen and the concept caught on. Another tale tells us that the Irish would dance behind bars and hedges to hide their practice of Irish culture from the Anglican church in the 18th and 19th centuries—the only part the authorities could see was their torsos, so they learned to keep them still. This one seems even more unlikely (maybe they wouldn’t have seen their feet, but I think I’d notice a bartender hopping up and down,) but the time of hedge schools and religious oppression were very real. The speculation doesn’t stop there, but it all revolves around a similar theme: oppression and defiance. It could be English soldiers tied the Irish up and made them dance, or that the Catholic church restricted the arm movements to make the dancing less provocative. Or maybe it’s just that Irish pubs are so crowded, you can’t move your arms! All these ideas seem to tell us more about the Irish love of storytelling than their dance traditions. What seems more likely from a historical standpoint is a combination of two factors: the influence of French court etiquette and decisions made as Irish dance became a competitive and international art form. The Dance Masters of the 18th and 19th centuries were also known for their concentration on decorum, having been trained by the (supposedly) more refined French. In hopes of taming the “wild Irish,” arm movements were removed to help civilize them. But this could still just be gossip.  A still from a recording of the Oireachtas Na Rince, 1964...click on the image to watch the video! What we know for sure is that when the Gaelic League (“Conradh na Gaeilge”) was formed in 1893, and then the Irish Dancing Commission (“An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha”) in 1927, the two organizations decided on specific criteria for Irish dance that has mostly remained till this day. Though there’s some controversy in modern circles about the Irish Dancing Commission’s decisions to standardize Irish dance, it was considered helpful from the perspective of judging to have the arms uninvolved so there’s no distractions from the feet. In any case, this is the only real, recorded evidence we have available to us for a specific reason Irish dance developed such a unique form.
While competitive Irish dance still adheres to this rigid posture, there’s of course traditions and performances that break from this standard (most notably Sean Nós, céilí dancing, and modern interpretations of step dancing like Riverdance—something we’ll cover in another post!) However it came to be, the form that was once a symbol of oppression is now one of defiant skill. After all, Irish dance’s form has added another difficult element to a dance style already known for its rapid and complex footwork—no other dance style expects perfect balance without the help of the arms! This is Volume IV of a series. Read Volume III about Dance Masters and Gaelic Clubs here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. For Your Littlest Dancer Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a child in your life who loves to dance, wiggle, or move? Our taster session will give them the gift of dance! With the holiday season creeping up on us, often so does the stress—and no more so than this year. We know a lot of parents have been feeling extra pressure to make holidays special for their kids in a year that’s been so out of the ordinary, so we’re here to help! Check out the blog every Saturday until the end of December for holiday gift guides for your Irish dancer—from stocking stuffers and accessories to prints and ideas for Mom and Dad—we’ll post a little something for everyone. Though you’ll find some bigger business links throughout, we’ve tried our best to promote small businesses in the Irish dance community wherever possible and we hope you’ll join us in that goal! First up, some fun ideas for our littlest dancers:  1. Picture Books While a lot of Irish dance related books feature a female Irish dancer in traditional competition dress (which is fun, too! see more picture book suggestions below…) this book, written by Anna Marlis Bergard and illustrated by Leighanne Dees, is a rare children’s book about male Irish dancers. Set in old Ireland, Flying Feet: A Story of Irish Dance tells the story of two competing Dance Masters (learn more about them in our Origins of Irish Dance series here!) in the town of Ballyconneely. (It’s even reportedly based on a true event.) Additional Options: Irish Dancer: Oireachtas Kathleen O’Byrne: Irish Dancer Irish Dancing Girl (P.S. If none of these books are your style, check out our other Irish children's book recommendations here.)  2. Stuffed Animals Get your Tiny Jig or Pre-Beginner dancer something new to bring into class with them! While the bear featured in the picture has a competition dress on, this toy maker, Paddy Pals, has a wide variety of Irish bears, each with their own occupation and story. Check out their website—you won’t be disappointed in the care they put into each bear! (Or look below for a few more bear and non-bear options.) Additional Options: Another Teddy Personalized, Various Animals Stuffed Dancer Doll  3. Dolls and Doll Clothes For your dancer with her eye on the prize, this Etsy seller has created a mini-version of a competition dress (advertised for American Girl dolls, but it should fit any 18 inch doll!) While they may not be able to compete just yet, setting goals and achieving them is one of the biggest benefits of starting your littlest in dance classes early. Help your dancer visualize their goal through play! Additional Options: A Male and Female Pair! Another Option with Ghillies Irish Dancer Nutcracker  4. Coloring and Activity Books Sometimes, it’s hard to get your kids to practice. There’s nothing that will help that more than getting them excited about dancing, and activity books like these are the perfect way to have them thinking about dance even when they’re sitting still! And, not to mention, coloring has been proven to help improve motor skills, improve concentration, and develop a rich creative life—it’s a lot like dance that way. Additional Options: Irish Dancer Activity Book Irish Dance Coloring Book Another Coloring Book  5. Stationery This one may seem out of left field, but I loved receiving stationery as a kid: it makes you feel grown up (especially if they’re personalized like these!) There are some benefits (outside of the excitement over the new gel pens I’d recommend as an addition) too: learning about our mail system, practicing writing, and teaching manners. Who knows—maybe you can even get grandma or one of your dancer’s cousins to write back and start a pen-pal relationship! Who doesn’t love getting real mail? Additional Options: Personalized Male Irish Dancer Cards Irish Dancers Rock Cards Irish Dancer Cards  6. Dance Bag
This personalized, sequined dance bag is the perfect present to make each dance class feel special. Our smallest dancers don’t have a need for a larger, studio duffel just yet, just somewhere to put their water bottle and teddy—these drawstring backpacks are the perfect size! And for our less glitzy dancers, check out some non-sequined options below: Additional Options: Dancing Girl Tote Personalized Tote Plain Cinch Backpack This is Volume I of a series, come back next Saturday for the next installment! And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Erin Kate Dancer at SRL: Avonlea How long has your family been with SRL? This is our 2nd year. Why Irish dance? We are very Irish and my daughter really wanted to do it. What do most people not know about you? I used to sing opera in high school and college. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I always wanted to be an opera singer. I loved all the old musicals that I used to watch with my grandfather. I always wanted to travel and see the world. What’s your favorite thing about having your dancer in an online class? We can be at home and for the safety factor. Favorite fall family activity? Outdoor Halloween movie with a fire at our house.  What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance?
You have to set aside 30 mins every day to have your child practice and have them stick with it even if they get frustrated. If your dancer were a fictional character, who would they be and why? She would be Mal from Disney Descendants. She would be Mal because she can do magic, sing, dance, and is a good person. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? I feel it gives her more responsibility and lets her personality come out. What’s the most important quality to have in life? The most important quality to have in life I think is empathy. You need to always be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes in order to truly understand life. This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Irelyn's mom, Jill L., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Volume IV Children’s Books, Part 1 So, your child is interested in Ireland. While an appreciation for Ireland’s art of music and dance can be obtained by taking some Irish dance classes at SRL (of course,) what about the rest of the country’s culture? We’ve gathered together a few picture books that may intrigue them and will definitely teach them more about Ireland’s rich history and traditions: 1. Fiona’s Luck, Teresa Bateman Illustrations by Kelly Murphy This story is an original, but pulls from the ancient legend of one of Ireland’s most beloved myths: the leprechaun. Fiona and her people are newly arrived to the Irish shore, and the Leprechaun King is fed up—these “big folk” are hogging all the luck! When the King locks all the luck on the island away, Fiona and her village face many hardships before Fiona, with intelligence, ingenuity, and a dash of cunning, comes up with a plan to get it back. While both Bateman and Murphy are Americans, the reviews agree that the soft, delicate illustrations really bring Ireland to life. Take a break and let a librarian read this tale to your little one, with Storytime Now!’s YouTube channel (a great resource for many a reading!)  2. This is Ireland, Miroslav Sasek If your kid is looking for facts instead of flights of fancy, this is the book for you! Part of a series that travels all over the world, Sasek’s history of Ireland for children was originally written and illustrated in the 1960s but has lost none of its charm (don’t worry—anything that needs to has been updated for this century!) This is Ireland is recommended all over as what to read your child before you take a trip to Ireland (one day again, maybe…) as it spans the entire Emerald Isle: from Trinity College to the Blarney stone, from bustling Dublin to peaceful fields of shamrocks. Sasek, primarily a painter, gives an accurate depiction of Ireland while keeping a sense of whimsy with his vibrant, stylized illustrations.  3. Brave Margaret: An Irish Adventure, Robert D. San Souci Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport Does your child love Disney’s Brave? This is a similar story set in old Ireland instead of Scotland! Margaret is a farmer’s daughter in County Donegal when a ship arrives in the harbor with a young Prince who promises adventure. But when a sea serpent attacks and Margaret is separated from the ship, she finds that she has the strength inside her to defeat monsters all on her own. Truly in the spirit of “girl power,” the author cites his source as a West Irish tale dating back to the 1800s and its timelessness is a must read for children of all ages. A fifth grade teacher recorded a wonderful bedtime reading of this story (in her pajamas,) which you can access here.  4.Tales from Old Ireland, Malachy Doyle Illustrated by Niamh Sharkey and narrated by Maura O’Connell Written by a Northern Irish native, this collection of seven fairytales comes with a bonus: the included audiobook was recorded by legendary Irish folk singer, Maura O’Connell. Though this is a picture book, it is a very traditional book of fairytales—make sure to check over the stories for content before your littlest ones start reading or listening (some details of the stories: here.) Complimented by rich, muted borders and a full-size painting for each story, Doyle even includes a pronunciation guide for unfamiliar Irish words and names. Think of Tales from old Ireland as an Irish version of Mother Goose (or maybe, more accurately, the Brothers’ Grimm.)  5. Brigid’s Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story, Bryce Milligan
Illustrated by Helen Cann Brigid’s Cloak is another tale that harkens back to the ancient days of Ireland, but this one is a classic retold for children’s ears. St. Brigid (along with St. Patrick) is both a historical figure and the patron saint of Ireland in the Catholic tradition, but this story concentrates on one aspect of her legend: her cloak. The fable goes that Brigid was given a beautiful, blue cloak when she was born by a mysterious, Druidic figure. As she grew older and became a kind, charitable young woman, the cloak grows more tattered, but it still harnesses a very special power that allows her to perform a miracle that reflects her generous heart. Reviews all praise the book’s lyric prose and its ability to truly represent the conflicting aspects of Ireland (pastoral, but representing the Pagans, Christianity, and a belief in magic) in a child-friendly way that doesn’t take sides. So, while there are some religious aspects to the story (Brigid meeting the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, for instance,) it concentrates more on Brigid’s famed generosity than her beliefs. This is Volume IV of a series, read about some Irish Adult Contemporary book recommendations here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Avonlea Age: Freshly turned 6! How long have you been dancing with SRL? 2nd year! How did you get started with Irish dance? I asked for it for my 5th birthday instead of gifts. If you could rename yourself, what name would you choose? Or would you keep your own? Why? I would keep my own name. I love it and my name comes from one of mama's favorite books when she was a kid. What’s your current obsession? My current obsession is Mal from Disney’s Descendants. What’s your favorite thing about your online class? My favorite thing about online class is I can dance at home safely and there’s more one on one with the teacher. Plus, my mom is there to help if I'm struggling.  What’s your favorite thing about your personality?
My favorite thing about my personality is my kindness. I always want to make sure everyone is happy. What’s the best advice you can give a brand-new dancer? You have to practice every day, especially if you want to do hard shoe. Who do you look up to? I look up to my Auntie Carol because she saved my life delivering me. She is so kind and smart. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? I would go to Paris, France to see the Eiffel Tower and do a jig in front of it. What’s your favorite thing about dancing? My favorite thing about dancing is that it makes me happy! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Irelyn here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Illustration of a Dance Master performing at a crossroads Dance Masters and Gaelic Leagues The next chapter in the saga of Irish dance through the ages will look a little more familiar to our SRL families: the Dance Master. A precursor to the TCRG (like Miss Courtney,) Dance Masters were a flamboyant fixture in 1700s Ireland known for their itinerant lifestyle, brightly colored clothing, and the staffs they carried. Dance Masters traveled Irish districts in search of a pleasing town to stop in, and more importantly: students to teach. It was considered a great honor to have a Dance Master stop in your town, and a greater honor to house and feed them when they came to teach. The dances they taught were heavily influenced by the set quadrilles popular in the French upper classes, and the Dance Masters were considered extremely cultured and civilized due to the emphasis they placed on proper manners and deportment. This clashes directly with the setting: most of these classes occurred in barns and many students didn’t know their right from left. To combat this issue, Dance Masters would tie hay or straw to one of each student’s feet and ask them to “lift hay foot” or “lift straw foot”! While the Dance Masters were all about French etiquette and dancing (precursors to the sets students still learn today,) they also had some adventures along the way. Sometimes Dance Masters were kidnapped (playfully, we assume) by neighboring towns who wanted lessons. Dance Masters also often competed against Dance Masters from neighboring districts at céilís or feiseanna—large gatherings celebrating Irish culture and traditions usually held at a crossroads at the time--reportedly until one of them dropped!  The Gaelic Athletic Association in 1970 Since the Statute of Kilkenny (check out Volume II for more details,) Irish culture had been contained to the Irish (in law if not in practice,) and still felt somewhat oppressed by their English neighbors. The forming of Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) in 1893 changed everything by establishing an organization specifically dedicated to preserving Irish language, literature, folklore, music, dress, and, to a lesser extent, dance. While the League originally outlawed certain dances that weren’t considered completely Irish (like the set quadrilles so heavily influenced by the French,) they eventually rescinded their stance. In 1930, An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (The Irish Dancing Commission) was formed to preserve and promote all forms of Irish dance and still exists to this day.
In 1897, the first public céilí was held in London (perhaps not so ironically, when you consider the goal of preserving Irish culture for all Irish people—there was a fair amount living there.) After the Commission was established only a few decades later, it only took a few years for their work to spread to wherever Irish people lived—which by then was everywhere! Now, there are Gaelic Leagues and Clubs all over the world and feiseanna are held wherever they are. Irish dance comes from a tradition that resembles the American dream as much as anything Irish: a melting pot (doing my best to refrain from a pot o’ gold pun) of traditions and cultures. While it honors a specific heritage wherever it’s performed, that heritage was created over millennia through a distinct and unique combination of different people and civilizations. At SRL, as we’re proud to continue that tradition by keeping to the heart of it: honoring Irish culture, while always remembering you don’t need to be Irish to do Irish dance! This is Volume II of a series. Catch up with Volume I here and Volume II here. And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  A blue moon’s color comes from dust in the atmosphere. Spooky Samhain Tales Did you know this year is the first full moon on Samhain in more than 20 years? Not only that, it’s a blue moon—the last blue moon on Halloween was in 1955 and the next won’t be until 2039! In fact, there’s only six full moons on October 31st this century. All I’m saying is, if we were ancient Druids, it would a particularly spooky and significant celebration this year. The ancient Irish never steered themselves away from the frightening in their mythology, and this impulse was only heightened around Samhain (Irish Halloween)—the time they believed the veil between the living and the dead, our world and the faerie world, was at its thinnest. While we briefly covered a few myths in our review of the history of Irish Halloween, there are plenty more where that came from. More than I think anyone would be comfortable with—especially at a foggy Irish crossroads on Halloween night with a full blue moon above them. Perhaps one of the best known of all Irish cryptozoological creatures is a Banshee (or “Bean Sídhe.”) Ironically, the banshee isn’t particularly dangerous for the average person—she only haunts those of noble Irish heritage. She never hurts anyone, though some believe she’s foretelling a death within the house she haunts her keening wail (or “caoine”) as she tears her hair, just as ancient mourners were wont to do. She often considered to be the counterpoint of the Leanan Sídhe—a faerie woman so beautiful she's inspired poets, artists and musicians to fall in love and create great art, only to leave them to die without their muse.  If you closely, you can see the Selkie’s tail as she sheds her skin. (This one resides on the Faroe Islands.) Similarly, but perhaps more alarmingly, are tales of a creature called a Fetch (sometime “Taisé” or “Fáith”)—it’s said these apparitions predict accidents and deaths by taking the form of the person about to be hurt as a warning. Not surprisingly, the word “fáith” can also mean seer. Imagine seeing yourself in front of you, clutching at your chest or wet as if you fell in a river? Terrifying! Speaking of water, there’s plenty the Irish believe hide there as well. Just like there’s an underground faerie realm, there’s believed to be a concurrent “Land Beneath the Waves” (“Tír fo Thuinn.”) The best known escapees of this land are Merrows and Selkies—and no, the name doesn’t deceive—both myths are akin to our tales of mermaids. Merrows are human women from the waist up with fish tails and have a piece of clothing that allows them to breathe underwater, while Selkies are part-seal and only appear as beautiful women when they shed their skin. One can capture either as a bride if you steal their magic hat or seal skin, but Merrow or Selkie, they’ll always be longing and trying to return to the sea.  The Questing Beast’s name comes from all the quests that came up empty trying to hunt it. But for all these tales that can’t necessarily hurt you, the Irish always have plenty of myths and monsters that can. Another sea monster is the Kelpie, a “water horse” (literally) that lures people to climb on its back so it can drown and eat them (for others they can appear as beautiful man or woman.) The Gray Man (or “Fear Liath”) personifies fog and confuses travelers so they stumble over cliffs to their deaths. Then there’s the Questing Beast, a bizarre, barking combination of animals (head of snake, torso of a leopard, back legs of a lion, but the hooves of a deer) that wreaks havoc and appears in Arthurian legends. And we can’t forget the Dark Man (“Fear Doirich”) and the Demon Bride…but those names are pretty self-explanatory and terror-inducing without the details.
Of course, this list of mythological beasts goes on and on—keep checking the blog for more stories! Just because October’s over doesn’t mean we don’t love a good tall tale. Or twenty. And don’t worry, the Irish have lots of protection beliefs as well—ones that have crept into our modern tales of ghosts, vampires, and monsters. Iron has always been believed to protect against the fey, as well as passing over running water or running into a graveyard. It’s also the origin of jack-o’-lanterns—originally turnips hollowed, carved with a terrifying face, hung from a stick, and filled with a glowing coal to scare away anything that had slipped away from the Otherworld. Once Christianity arrived in Ireland, holy water became the go to form of protection for people traveling on a dark Samhain night—carried by dipping pieces of straw in consecrated waters and holding it in front of them. Though there is still a definite faction in Irish culture that has a healthy respect for these mythological tales, the average person dismisses them as fantasy. So why create such scary creatures in the first place? It’s one of the most baffling things about humanity…why do we (well, some of us) love to be scared? The answer is surprisingly simple: it’s a safe and controlled way of confronting all those unknowns out there in the world. We can feel the rush of fear without the danger—our brain knows we’re safe. I mean…as long as the Gray Man doesn’t appear as we walk home at night. Then, all bets are off. This is Volume II of a series. Read our first installment about the Tuatha Dé Danann here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday (and the occasional Saturday) for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Volume III Adult Contemporary Fiction, Part I It’s 2020, and that means you’re still probably spending more time than you used to at home. What better time to actually start reading more? (You know you always say you’re going to.) The following are a few recommendations for books by some of Ireland’s best contemporary authors to help you make a start! Content warning: these books deal with a variety of adult topics and are only recommended for our parents and our oldest dancers! 1. In the Woods, Tana French This one is a bit of a cheat: Tana French is technically an American, but even the Irish have dubbed her the “First Lady of Irish Crime,” so I think it’s appropriate to include this long-standing resident of Ireland. The opening for French’s Dublin Murder Squad series (which don’t have the be read in any particular order) will be perfect for anyone who loves 1) true crime, 2) detective novels, and 3) a slow-burning mystery. The book follows the cynical voice of Rob Ryan as he and his partner, Cassie Maddox (narrator of the next book: The Likeness,) investigate the murder of a 12-year-old girl—a case that very well may be connected to Rob’s childhood. This critically acclaimed book is now a series titled Dublin Murders on Starz.  2. Normal People, Sally Rooney At only 29-years-old, Sally Rooney is the new wunderkind of adult contemporary literature with her two lauded novels: 2018’s Normal People and 2017’s Conversations with Friends. These are quietly psychological novels, concentrating on all the complexities tangling up the relationships of (in both cases) college students. In Normal People, we follow Connell and Marianne as they try to navigate their unspoken, but deep connection to each other as they grow out of their small town in County Sligo into something like adults while students at Trinity College in Dublin. This startlingly intimate book has been made into a hit limited series on Hulu, with Conversations with Friends optioned and due to start filming any day now.  3. Skippy Dies, Paul Murray A darkly funny take on the classic boarding school novel, Paul Murray’s second book’s title reveals the crux of the entire plot: the main character, a 14-year-old boy named Skippy, falls down dead in a donut shop in the first few pages. The expansive novel (600 pages!) that follows retraces how we got there and deals with the aftermath of a grieving community in a tragic comedy full of everything from string theory to Celtic mythology, with plenty of biting satire in between. Long-listed for the 2010 Booker Prize, Skippy Dies is based on Paul Murray’s own time at an Irish all-male boarding school and it’s the interplay between that almost gothic setting with an adolescent coming-of-age story that creates its balanced tone and finds the humor in life’s inherent spots of darkness.  4. The Wonder, Emma Donoghue Emma Donoghue may be best known for Room (which was made into a movie that netted Brie Larson her Best Actress Oscar in 2015,) but The Wonder has a more distinctly Irish feel. Though set in 1859, the book metaphorically tackles something key to even the modern Irish identity: the relationship between the Irish and the English. The Wonder tells the story of an English nurse named Libby Wright who travels to a small Irish town to investigate a medical anomaly…or a miracle. The case is that of eleven-year-old Anna O’Donnell who hasn’t had a morsel of food for months, and the interest that springs up around her shapes itself into a slow-moving but deeply felt mystery that transforms all in its reach. Donoghue is a prolific, usually historical writer (this book is based on stories of “fasting girls” from the 16th-20th centuries,) but this is her first book actually set in her home country of Ireland.  5. A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, Eimear McBride
Eimear McBride’s debut novel has won many a prize and with good reason: A Girl is a Half-formed Thing was called “blazingly original” by no less than The New Yorker. While its unique style might make it a more challenging read for some, McBride tells her story through an almost stream-of-consciousness narrative poem that tackles the biggest possible topics: religion, abuse, illness, death, and even love. The reader exists intensely within the head of the unnamed, young, female narrator, brought along as she processes her brother’s childhood cancer and deals with her chaotic family life in an unspecified Irish town. With all the details stripped away, the book becomes somehow more Irish as its almost Joycean lyricism gets you closer to a sense of true identity than anything more neatly delineated—something felt rather than explainable. This is Volume III of a series, read Volume II about modern Irish slang here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Bailey
Position: Instructor, assists all class levels How long have you been working at SRL? Why SRL? I have been working at SRL for the past month, and absolutely love it! SRL is an amazing community where all the dancers and teachers are very motivating, inspiring, and caring. How long have you been dancing? Why Irish dance? I have been dancing for 18 years! My mom chose Irish dance for me and my sister when we were very young to help express our Irish heritage. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) The coolest place I have ever visited was either Vancouver, BC or Edinburgh, Scotland. What are you interested in that most people aren’t? Math! I love math, as I am currently pursuing my graduate degree in Secondary Education with concentration in mathematics! Why do you think people dance? People dance to feel something and to express emotion. I dance because it made me feel strong, powerful, and motivated. What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of? Why? Harry Potter (any of them!)… I am a huge fan! How has dance affected your everyday life? I cannot go a day without thinking about Irish dance, listening to Irish music, or dancing! What do most people not know about you? I have 2 different colored eyes. Who’s your biggest inspiration? Aly Raisman (2012 & 2016 Olympian) because she is such a hard worker, but also, she is a team leader and always wants success for her teammates. What advice do you have for aspiring dancers? Always be the hardest worker in the room; hard work goes a long way. This post is part of a series. Read our Q&A with another instructor, Codi, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  The bonfire symbolized new beginnings and the constant cycle of renewal. Samhain It’s spooky season! Love or hate Halloween, October is undeniably the denizen of all things creepy, crawly, and sugar-filled all over the world. From the Día de los Muertos in Mexico and Latin America (on that note—if you and your kids haven’t watched Coco, there’s no better time than now!) to Guy Fawkes Night (or Bonfire Night) in England, it’s not just America that feels a need to celebrate as the days keep getting shorter, darker, and colder. But have you ever wondered where our Halloween traditions come from? Since you’re on an Irish dance blog, I bet you have a guess! The modern tradition of Halloween as we celebrate it in the United States stems from an ancient Celtic Pagan religious holiday called Samhain. Samhain (pronounced ‘sow’inn’) is a tradition as old as we can know—definitively dating back two millennia (and possibly a few more.) Celebrated from October 31st to November 1st, the festival marks the beginning of the “dark half of the year.” Samhain was believed to be the night where the barrier between the Otherworld (Tír na nÓg) was at its thinnest. As people finished up the last of their harvest work, they allowed their hearth fires to burn out before attending the communal celebrations. There, the Druid priests would use a wheel (something they utilized in their worship of the sun) to spark flames and light a community bonfire. Together, everyone would burn sacrificial bones (from the feast they were soon to consume) and tokens for their personal prayers for the colder seasons. After, every family would bring a flame from the big conflagration to relight their own hearth fires–perhaps a reminder of the constant support of their community before the darkest nights of the year.  Click on the image for a traditional Soul Cake recipe. Samhain wasn’t just an excuse to gather together and ward away the cold. It was also a feast holiday before the difficulties of winter, and a way to honor deceased loved ones. Many houses would leave candles burning in their windows to light the way for spirits, and specific treats were blessed and left to appease them (it was considered extremely bad luck to eat any of that food before the night passed, though it was often given to the less fortunate the next day.) Some traditional treats include barmbrack—a sweet cake with tokens baked inside to tell your fortune—and “soul cakes” (essentially a precursor to cookies) left near the door for both the living and dead guests. But where good spirits can get through, so can bad. That’s where costumes come in! The tradition of dressing up (usually as an animal back then) is as old as the tradition of the bonfire, believing it was the best way for everyone to hide themselves from anything frightening that may have slipped through from the Faery world. Samhain was associated with a few scary creatures in particular, including: the Pooka (a shapeshifter—but watch out for the red eyes,) the Lady Gwyn (also known as the White Lady, who chases people out too late,) the Dullahan (something like our headless horseman,) and the Sluagh Sidhe (aka the “Wild Hunt,” a faery host who will try to make you join them in their eternal sport.)  A turnip jack-o-lantern—traditionally these were hung on sticks with a glowing coal inside! As times changed, so did traditions, especially as many Irish people settled in the New World. While we held on to the costumes, jack-o-lanterns replaced simple candles (though they were originally made from turnips!) and games and activities we’d recognize—like bobbing for apples, cider drinking, music, and all kinds of fortune-telling—became the norm. Even Mischief Night (a prank-filled tradition, mostly for teens, largely celebrated in Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, Michigan, and New Jersey) has its roots in Ireland—those who choose to wreak havoc the night before Halloween are simply taking the role of the mischievous faeries that have escaped from Tír na nÓg!
The connections of Halloween being particularly Irish doesn’t stop there--vampires as we know them in the 21st century are the product of two of Ireland’s finest. Bram Stoker was an Irishman and brought us almost all the lore we associate with vampires today with his book Dracula, taking his inspiration from the myth of the Dearg Due (a young, beautiful, blood-sucking woman.) Years later, another writer of Irish descent, Anne Rice, would bring vampires into the spotlight again with Interview with a Vampire and her many following books. So this Halloween, after the candy is hidden and the costumes in a pile on the floor, maybe take a moment to reflect on the forgotten reason we love to celebrate it: it’s one last moment of communal warmth before the cold settles in. While this Halloween may not look like others in the past, that feeling is the part that we can cherish and retain. And we have Samhain and the Celts to thank! This is Volume I of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Jill L. Dancer at SRL: Irelyn How long has your family been with SRL? 7 Years Why Irish dance? I always loved watching it and wanted my daughter to just try it if I could find a class. My lucky day happened when I saw a sign for SRL in front of the South Windsor library that a new studio was opening in town. I was so excited! And here we are 7 years later! What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I always wanted to be either a travel agent or a flight attendant. I shadowed a travel agent when I was in high school. I love to travel and planning is half the fun for me. I didn’t follow that path but am in the aerospace business so I guess I partly fulfilled that dream. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? It’s given her confidence in herself to be able to perform in front of large audiences. She is able to give herself goals to work towards and she knows that it will take time and hard work to achieve and is willing to put the effort in because she can see the progress happening. Favorite fall family activity? Watching football! What’s your favorite dance-related memory? St Patricks Day performance time, it is definitely crazy on some days, but it is so much fun! You get to travel to all different types of places to perform and it’s the one time of year that I get to see dancers perform that I haven’t seen in a while. And how much each dancer has learned over the year!  If your dancer were a fictional character, who would they be and why?
She would be Moana, Irelyn not only resembles her, she has a big heart, a love of nature, the ocean and singing. If you could meet any historical or famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would like to meet Walt Disney. I would love to see what his imagination was like and what his future vision was, and what he would think of how the Disney brand has grown to what it is today. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Irish dance is great because it is completely up to you and your dancer as to how involved you want to be. Competition and performances are optional or you can choose to compete every weekend if you want. It’s a unique skill to have and fun to get to show it off! What’s the most important quality to have in life? To have a positive attitude. There is not a lot that we have control over in life but choosing to look at the positive side definitely helps! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Natalie J.’s mom, Siobhan, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Statute of Kilkenny A.D. 1367, James Hardiman, c. 1843 The Statue of Kilkenny and English Monarchs Just as the history of Ireland is rife with conflict, so is the history of Irish dance. It might sound dramatic (or a little bit too much like Footloose,) but there was a time in Ireland when Irish dance was essentially banned. Well…not for everyone. In the 14th century, the English began to feel they were losing the foothold on Irish soil they had gained in 1177 through a pact with the Normans (for more about them, see Volume I!) Scrambling, they took action by enacting the Statute of Kilkenny in 1366—35 laws banning anyone except the native Irish from partaking in Irish traditions. Among the many banned activities within the Anglo-Norman settlement were: riding horses “Irish style” (i.e. without a saddle,) listening to Irish storytellers, wearing an “Irish beard” (whatever that means,) marrying an Irish person, utilizing any Irish names or dress, and even playing any Irish games or music. While these laws didn’t expressly forbid Irish dance in so many words, the intent was clear: Irish culture (including dance) was only for the native Irish. However, you can’t keep a dancer from dancing. The fears of the English—so close but so far away without modern air travel—had come true: their settlers had become “more Irish than the Irish themselves.” In fact, these laws were so loosely enforced that they weren’t technically repealed until 1983!  James II arriving in Kinsale, County Cork, 1689, From British Battles on Land and Sea, James Grant Besides, it wasn’t long before those back in England began to change their tune once they saw all that impressive footwork in person. No less than Queen Elizabeth I herself became a fan of Irish dance when Sir Henry Sydney wrote to her of girls he saw dancing jigs in Galway in 1569: "They are very beautiful, magnificently dressed, and first class dancers." After receiving the letter, the Queen reportedly invited and hosted Irish dancers at court.
And Queen Elizabeth I wasn’t the only English royal who sang the praises of Irish dance. Historians have found evidence that one of her successors, James II, was greeted upon his arrival to Ireland in 1689 with Irish dancers (though the trip didn’t go so well for him after that welcome.) These were the first steps (pardon the pun) of acceptance for Irish dance that has let the tradition travel beyond Ireland’s borders to become the worldwide celebrated art form it is today. This is Volume II of a series. Read Volume I here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Irelyn Age: 13 How long have you been dancing with SRL? 7 Years How did you get started with Irish dance? My mom has always loved Irish step dancing so she asked me if I wanted to try it. Then I fell in LOVE with it! If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Avocados! What do you daydream about? Going on vacation. What’s your favorite dance memory? The party we have before Oireachtas because I get to spend time with my friends and everyone is excited! What’s the best gift you ever received? Our trampoline.  What’s your favorite thing about dancing?
Learning new steps that are at a higher level or more difficult. If you were an animal, which one would you be and why? I would probably be a monkey because they like to have fun and so do I! Who do you look up to? I look up to my parents. What’s the best advice you can give a new dancer? If you are having a tough time with a step, don’t give up because you’re frustrated. Just focus and you’ll get it! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Natalie J. here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Volume II
There’s nothing an American loves more than a UK accent. That being said, it doesn’t mean we can always understand everything they’re saying. While modern entertainment has brought British slang to the forefront (everyone knows what someone means when they hear “loo” or “boot,”) there’s still plenty of linguistic mystery when it comes to the Emerald Isle. Here’s a few choice phrases and some vocabulary (just in case we ever get to travel again, or so you can at least fully understand Irish TV shows in the meantime): How’s the craic? Craic translates to “fun,” but this common phrase is essentially a way of saying “what’s up?” or “how’s it going?” Pronounced crack. Jacks Just as the British have “loo,” and we have the bizarre (if you think about it) “restroom,” wherever they keep the toilets in Ireland are jacks. Wind your neck in! A vaguely (but not entirely) rude way of telling someone to be quiet, usually because they’re complaining too much, overstepping their bounds, or being generally difficult. Grand I know what you’re thinking, but this word has its own connotation in Ireland. It’s more of an equivalent to “fine” or “okay” with a touch of irony, and is apparently the most common answer to every question. Go away out of that. This one is often described as “untranslatable,” but it’s relatively similar to our non-literal version of “get out of here” with a unique grammatical structure. Kind of like a scoffing, “I don’t believe you,” or “you must be joking!” Bang on! A common way to express that something’s really, definitely correct. As in: “You’re bang on with that opinion, Irish dance is the best.” Sleeveen A sly, cunning, and manipulative person. What we might call a “smooth-talker.” He’s a topper. Turn of phrase usually used for a well-respected, younger man. We might say he’s a “stand up guy” or “a gentleman.” Lethal/Leefs In typical slang fashion, this is one of those words that means the opposite of what it sounds like (as in when surfers say “sick” or “gnarly.”) Basically translates to “cool.” The second option is just the abbreviated version. And this is only the beginning… Note: Just like in America, all slang presented above is regional. And just like America, it's difficult to figure out exactly where a singular word originates from when you're not living there. For this reason, regional information hasn't been included with this post. This is Volume II of a series, read Volume I about modern Irish snacks here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  If you’re reading this, it’s fair to say that you’re probably browsing the SRL site. And if you’re browsing our site, you may be considering signing your child up for Irish dance. One of the most common questions any studio gets asked is: how old does my child need to be to start dance lessons? Our answer is always the same: If you can walk, you can dance! While dance has been proven to be beneficial to all age groups and we’ll never discourage an older student from beginning, there’s upsides to starting early. First of all, let’s acknowledge the elephant in every single room: it’s 2020, so your kids have been spending ALL their time with you. And as much as some extra family time has been the major benefit of this year, it does mean less opportunities for your child to develop a sense of independence and personhood, as well as for practicing social skills outside the home. There’s no “Mommy and Me” classes at SRL—we see even our Tiny Jig classes (for 2 to 3-year-olds) as a way for our students to not only learn to dance, but also: practice taking turns and sharing attention with others, being kind and respectful to peers and adults, learning about personal space boundaries, as well as a myriad of other not just social, but developmental skills they may not have a lot of chances to practice right now. Beyond the developmental benefits dance can foster, are the physical benefits. Our youngest classes concentrate not only on dance skills, but help improve motor skills, as well as help catch and correct any issues with right-left dominance. And, of course, it’s excellent exercise. (Especially during New England’s winter months!) Innumerable studies confirm that dance also improves cognitive ability and can led a better quality of life. Why? While there can’t be a downside to forging a mind-body connection early in development, dance classes also help kids practice patience, goal setting, and routine—all things that will benefit them in their future studies—as well as musicality. We’ve all seen the reports about how stimulating music is for the brain—why not develop that appreciation early? Additionally: if your child is already interested in dance, they may want to continue with it as they get older. Early dance classes aren’t a requirement, but they will lay a good foundation for your dancer’s success later on by instilling technique and creating a well-rounded dancer. In fact, it will be beneficial for any physical activity they choose—haven’t you heard the stories about NFL players taking dance classes to improve their coordination, flexibility, and footwork? With fewer children attending in-person preschool or even elementary, SRL’s dance classes provide a safe, socially distant space (with small class sizes to assure safety and close attention to all students and online options) for your kids to grow, learn, and play. It may not be easy right away—your kids may get discouraged or have the occasional tantrum or issues listening—but that’s what dance is about: learning, growing, and pushing through. Irish dance, like life, only has a couple moments of instant gratification…but isn’t that what makes real, earned successes all the sweeter? Here at SRL, students get moved up levels as soon as their skills have progressed, not by any specific age designation (that’s just to start!) Your child’s hard work is the only thing rewarded. And what better lesson to instill in your kids at a young age than that? Hear our Director, Courtney Jay, TCRG, discuss the benefits of our programs (for children as young as two!) here: This is our second Saturday bonus post! Check out our first here, all about battling back to school burnout. And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram
 Does anyone recognize what princess Codi is cosplaying? Let us know in the comments! Name: Codi
Position: Instructor: Tiny Jig, Pre-Beginner, Beginner, Adult classes What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of? Why? Pretty much every Disney princess movie. They remind me of going to Disney world with my family when I was little and just always make me happy! What do most people not know about you? I cosplay once a year, dressing up as a twist on a Disney character and hanging out with other people who do the same. How long have you been working at SRL? Why SRL? 2.5 years, after college I stopped dancing because I couldn't find somewhere to continue but a few years later I found SRL's adult class. Once I was there, I got to talking to Courtney about my previous experience and that I had taught before. I started with subbing in some classes for her that year then started teaching full time that spring. It's a joy to be able to help the students develop all of their skills and watch them grow. How long have you been dancing? Why Irish dance? I’ve been Irish dancing for 19 years now. I chose it because at the time it was something new and exciting but continued because it was always a challenge to improve and learn new skills. How has dance affected your everyday life? It's a fun thing to connect with others about, and a little crazy sometimes to see how many people actually have some experience with something you might think is not as widespread! What’s your secret talent? Normally this would be the question I answer "Irish Step" to, but I don't think I can do that here, haha. My secret talent is that I can drive miniature horses. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) The coolest place I've ever visited is France. I was able to go up the Eiffel tower, walk down the Champs-Élysées, and visit Normandy. Why do you think people dance? I think people Irish dance to give them a fun challenge. The feeling of satisfaction after mastering something becomes a little addictive and drives you to accomplish more and more. Dance in general is also a great way to connect with others and form friendships. What advice do you have for aspiring dancers? There is always something to work on, whether or not what you’re practicing seems challenging. Add an element to keep improving, for example if you think your turnout is good, work on your upper body posture, holding yourself straight and keeping your arms still, while practicing your turnout skills. What’s the most important quality to have in life? Perseverance, the ability to continue to work towards what you want even if you're pushed backwards or have to find a new path. This is part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  The Riders of the Sidhe, John Duncan, c. 1911 The Tuatha Dé Danann While Greek deities like Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon are thought of as common knowledge, and Marvel has brought Norse legends like Thor and Loki into popular culture, most people outside of Ireland know little about Irish mythology. It’s even more surprising when you consider that when an Irish distillery conducted a survey in 2011 about the Irish public’s belief in Leprechauns, 33% of people polled said they were believers, and 55% believed that the magical creatures existed at some point in the past. Even with the deep religious ties of the country, many Irish citizens still practice “fairy faith” (Creideamh Sí,) though it’s less worship than a belief it’s better to be safe than sorry. Today, we’re going a little further back than the concept of Leprechauns, to a group of magically inclined people called the Tuatha Dé Danann. The legend goes that one of the early clans believed to have inhabited Ireland, the Fir Bolg, watched as a great fog swept over the land. Out of the fog came burning ships, and upon those ships were the Tuatha Dé Danann: a tall, fair race of people (many with the flaming red hair we associate with the Irish) who were skilled in both magical arts and craftsmanship. In fact, one translation of Tuatha Dé Danann comes out to “skilled workers” and the newcomers proved skilled enough that the Fir Bolg agreed to move to Connaught and leave the rest of Ireland to the Danann. And who exactly told us this story? Irish folklore and mythology was passed down by a long-standing oral tradition—probably the only reason the stories survived to be told—but finally began to be recorded in the medieval period by Monks. The Book of Invasions was written about the history of Ireland around 1150 A.D., and made sure the existence of the Danann was considered fact until the 17th century. Though, as the text said: “The truth is not known, beneath the sky of stars,/ Whether they were of heaven or earth.”  The “Stone of Destiny” is on display at Edinburgh Castle today There are many stories about the Tuatha Dé Danann (many of which we hope to cover here for you in future installments!), but perhaps most important are the legends of the four magical artifacts they gathered before settling in Ireland. Dagda was the patriarch of the group, and was known for his never-emptying Cauldron—a particularly potent item for a land oft beset by famine. Next was Lugh’s Spear—the tool of a king, warrior, and master craftsman that was said to have a flaming tip. Similarly, Nuada (the Danann’s original king, before Lugh) brought with him the Sword of Light from which no one could escape. Last was an object we still have today—the Stone of Destiny—which is supposedly able to determine the true High King, roaring so loudly when the chosen one sat upon it that it could be heard across the land (with many a legend about where it ended up, including the time half was stolen from Westminster Abbey and ended up in Scotland.) Numerous exploits in the Danann’s stories involve one or more of these items. However, these magical items didn’t stop the Tuatha Dé Danann from being defeated. When the Milesians (probably the first Gaels to land there) arrived on Irish soil, they defeated the Danann in two battles before offering them a deal: they would split the land with them 50/50. But the skilled ones had been tricked. The Milesians only granted them the half of the land under the ground, keeping everything above ground to themselves.  Illustration of Tir na nÓg, Stephen Reed, c. 1910 The legend goes that the Tuatha Dé Danann retreated underground and may still remain there to this day in the “Otherworld” (Tír na nÓg) where no one grows old and time never passes. This fairy world is said to be entered through fairy mounds and hills, as well as stone circles and even cairns. But as the Danann disappeared, they were said to give way to another generation of magical creatures known as the Aos Sí (or the Fey, the Sidhe, or Faeries)…but that’s a story for another day.
(Okay, one hint: we already discussed one of the Sidhe’s cryptozoological creatures in the first paragraph!) This is part I of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  No matter how many years out of school I am, I’ll always think of the new year as starting in September. Somehow, New Year’s Eve has nothing on the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, new books in a new backpack, and that outfit that’s just a little bit too hot for the weather (every year! I never learned.) But, for everyone still actually school-age, especially in the year 2020, there’s also the downside to all the excitement: having to learn a new routine after months and months of routine-free fun.
Your happy kid, so full of energy all spring and summer, suddenly doesn’t want to do anything. This is the year you signed them up for new activities they’d been begging to try (maybe even an Irish dance class?) and all of a sudden they have no interest. So, what now? The back to school burnout is real, and probably worse this year for the obvious reasons. The first step is simple: recognize it’s happening and understand that it’s normal. And, as much as it’s normal, remember the adage that’s now backed up by a bevy of scientific research: children need routines. Regularity in daily and weekly routines has been proven to produce better adjusted and more successful adults across the board, in all fields. Notable, studied benefits include improved attention span and self-control, better time management, decrease in anxiety, better social skills, a higher level of emotional intelligence, better academic performance, and even increased employability in adulthood (among others.) Expert tips about how to combat resistance to the new routine and avoid the worst of the burnout are pretty standard across the board: Commit to a reasonable number of activities, but don’t say yes to everything. Be flexible, but be clear about your expectations. Keep as regular sleep schedule as possible. Eat a balanced diet. Forge open communication within your family. Encourage asking for help whenever you need it. Put a limit on screen time. Make sure to make time to relax and decompress. Set goals and celebrate achieving them. One of the most constant and repeated tips? Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. While we at SRL recommend Irish dance classes as the best way to get up and going, 150 minutes of any moderate movement-based activity a week is the standard recommended by every medical organization. Why? Besides the obvious—physical health—exercise has been proven to help decrease stress and increase endorphins (among other happy-brain chemicals,) as well as boost overall energy and mental acuity. Simultaneously, exercise classes promote community and social development, while also promoting better sleep habits when your kids get home. That’s right, ironically, just getting them to the class they’re reticent to go to will help with everything else! Lastly, and just as importantly, remember that self-care isn’t just a buzz word, it’s how parents can continue to be great parents! We all need to take moments for ourselves throughout the day or the kids won’t be the only ones burnt out. Besides, let’s be real…you deserve it. This post is our first Saturday Bonus post! Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Name: Siobhan J.
Dancer at SRL: Natalie J. How long has your family been with SRL? I think it’s 4 years, starting 5th year. Natalie’s sister danced for one year as well. Why Irish dance? A few reasons; we had started with “regular” dancing, but it lacked something. I’m Irish, I’m involved in the Irish community, and I thought this might be another way to engage my daughters in an activity that would be great for them and also tied to their ancestry. How did you pick your dancer’s name? Before my husband and I were even married, we knew if we had a girl she would be “Natalie” . He loved Natalie Portman, I had a favorite student named Natalie. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? Natalie is competitive and she wants to do well but she is a little girl who can be easily more interested in other things. Dancing with SRL and Miss Courtney has given her ways to practice at setting goals and working toward them. This was never more true than her second year when she was struggling with reading in first grade and simultaneously did poorly at a feis. Right after that, she set two goals - which she even wrote down - to get better at reading and to get better at Irish dance. By the end of that year, she had improved dramatically at both. I believe that Natalie’s competitive nature to do well or be the best she can be, combined with the skills that she has been taught by Courtney in dance, and the positive reinforcements she’s gotten from her achievements are inextricably linked, but in short, dance has been the vehicle to hone those skills. If your dancer was an animal, which one would they be and why? She might say a kitten; cuddly, cute, fun to play with. But seeing she can be a little powerhouse, I suspect that kitten will grow up to be a lioness. Would you relive your high school years if you could? Ironically NO. Ironic, because I teach high school, but my goal is to be the teacher I felt I never had. What’s your favorite dance-related memory? In the beginning, it was seeing Natalie (and her sister) go to the performances during the St. Patrick’s Day season, particularly the senior homes. The first time I was overwhelmed with joy was the performance at CCSU when she and Roisin came out from the side “stage” and joined the large group for the big performance. Favorite fall family activity? Normally we love going to fairs like the Big E or the Berlin Fair. Apple picking is another favorite. If you had to work, but didn’t need the money, what would you do? Something creative; making crafts, painting, taking art classes as a professional student. :) What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Go for it!!! Some of the reasons I love it are because it is a YEAR ROUND outlet for my daughter (and her dance mates). She does not have to wait a whole year for one recital. She has competitions in the fall, performances throughout the winter and early spring, more competitions in the spring and summer, camp and other regular opportunities to dance, hone skills, perform, and become close with her friends. She has become good friends with several of the dancers, has role models in the older dancers; and the families get to know one another and become friends too. There is a great deal of support among the parents for each other and for the dancers. Furthermore, the dancers support one another! They stay at competitions and cheer for each other, they help each other with tricky moves, and they commit to their teams. Irish dance is as much community (however much one wants to commit) as it is individual. Of course, there’s the movement, the exercise and athleticism, the focus that some children need to burn off the extra energy while learning self discipline in a fun way. On a uncommon comparison, I often think it has similar qualities to karate with the discipline, athleticism, and focus. But, Irish dance has joy and musicality that takes it to another level; this is why I think it’s also very good for boys even though it may not be the first thing one thinks. This post is a part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Volume I Anyone who’s ever been to a country foreign to them knows: no matter how interesting the history and artwork and traditions are, there’s something equally intriguing about the differing details of day to day modern life. And nowhere are those differences more apparent than in snack foods. Though Japan is often cited for its incredible convenience store food, here are a few of Ireland’s favorite snacks that are just as intriguing…and sometimes surprising.  RED LEMONADE Red lemonade is almost exactly what it sounds like: it is lemon-flavored and it is red. However, this nostalgic beverage isn’t freshly squeezed, but more of an oddly colored (there’s also white and brown lemonade—which is also made and sold in Maine) soft drink (though they call them “minerals.”) Rumors still run rampant that this drink is banned everywhere but Ireland (and there’s also some mystery as to its origin,) but manufacturers insist this isn’t true. Though considered a bit of a throwback, red lemonade can still be found in many stores and pubs and is ordered by both children and adults to go with…more adult beverages.  CRISPS Okay, okay, America loves potato chips too. But seeing different brands (like Tayto, Skips, and Hunky Dory) and flavors (Smokey Bacon or Prawn Cocktail, anyone?) can feel like a revelation. And the Irish are pretty serious about their crisps, too. When two Irish DJs decided to poll their listeners about the most popular crisp flavor in Ireland, the response was overwhelming, with 53% preferring Tayto’s Cheese and Onion. (In fact, Tayto brand crisps so popular in Ireland that a common snack is just Taytos smashed between two slices of buttered white bread—they call it a “Tayto Sandwich.”)  TWISTERS
Originally called a “Tangle Twister,” these “ice lollies” are as common to Ireland as red, white, and blue Firecrackers are to the U.S. Though, they do come with a delicious twist on flavors: the original Twister is a creamy pineapple ice cream and lime fruit ice swirled around a strawberry fruit ice center. These days, there’s also variations involving blackcurrant (a very common dessert flavor there,) chocolate, pear, and even mango. In any flavor, these treats are so popular that there’s even a rollercoaster at West Midland Safari Park amusement park that echoes the classic design!  Name: Natalie J. Age: 9 How long have you been dancing with SRL? Since Kindergarten, going on my fifth year. If you could only bring one thing to a desert island, what would it be and why? My house, because it has a lot of stuff in it. How did you get started with Irish dance? I started at the church basement; Roisin Walsh was already dancing there. If you were a fictional character, who would you be and why? Hermione Granger (from Harry Potter.)  What’s your favorite dance memory?
Harry Potter Summer Camp! What’s your favorite snack? Fruit roll ups. What’s your favorite thing about dancing? Being with friends. What’s your favorite show to binge watch? iamSanna on YouTube (she has Roblox videos.) Who do you look up to? Miss Courtney Jay. What’s the best advice you can give a new dancer? Even though it is hard, you can do it! This post is part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.  Vintage engraving of “Druids,” original source unknown The Druids and the Normans There are many things in this vast world we don’t know the truth of: the Easter Island moai, the Nazca Lines, and even eels (hard to believe, but it’s true!) With legends reporting the earliest feis to have taken place three millennia ago, the beginnings of Irish dance fall into a similar category: a cultural marvel whose origin has been lost to time. (Okay, maybe eels are in a different category.) While there’s no definitive answer for who the original practitioner of Irish dance really was, historians do have some educated guesses. The Druids—a learned class in early Celtic culture that was a mix of priest, teacher, doctor, judge, and even warrior—are most often credited with the earliest version of the dances we practice today. The Druidic class was highly respected in ancient Irish culture, with the word “druid” thought to have come from the Irish-Gaelic word “doire,” meaning oak tree or wisdom. The biggest difference between modern Irish dance and Druidic performances? The Druids are believed to have danced as a form of worship. It’s thought that as early as 1600 B.C. the Druids were performing circular dances (possibly among standing stones, the most famous of which you may have heard of…Stonehenge) for a variety of reasons: to worship the sun and their namesake oak trees, as preparation for war, as a prayer for prosperity, as a courtship ritual, and even something closer to modern feis—social gathering and recreation.  Bayeux Tapestry, 11 c. depicting the Norman conquest But the Celts had some company knocking at the door. Ireland was invaded by the Normans in 1169 A.D., a group of Viking descendants previously settled in what is now Northern France. With their forces, the Normans brought a variety of traditions with them, including “carolling”—which is essentially a mix of Druidic circle dances (which were already similar to early French tradition,) and the singing we associate with modern caroling around the holidays.
“Carolling” led to one of the earliest known mentions of Irish dance in writing in 1413, when the Mayor of Waterford visited the Mayor of Baltimore (we've borrowed many a town name from the Irish!) and was presented with a procession of singing and dancing. While modern Irish dance is a little too athletic to expect anyone to sing while dancing, the custom of combining traditional dance and music is still carried out at most Irish dance academies. That includes us here at SRL! This is part I of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. |
SRL NewsFind all of our latest news on our Scoil Rince Luimni Facebook page! Archives
November 2020
Categories |
RSS Feed