Having spent most of my waking hours at the recent dancing competitions of the West Tyrone Feis, I have had time and reason to ponder on what the Irish Dancing Feis is all about.
Is it about celebrating our tradition, culture and heritage or about putting on a fashion parade? I had believed the purpose to be the former when I encouraged my own children to take up Irish dancing.
However, judging by the number of overly-groomed young girls at the recent Feis I am left wondering what has happened to the simple pleasure of enjoying the dance for dance's sake without the superfluous distraction of glitzy Las-Vegas style dresses, fake tan, make up and ridiculous bouncy wigs (yes, wigs).
The competitors are children - some as young as three-years-old. They have lovely natural skin which does not require enhancement with make-up. Nor do they require hideous-looking wigs to cover up their own beautiful hair.
Some mothers arrive at the Feis with enough equipment for a holiday abroad - complete with suitcases (yes, suitcases) full of costumes, make up bags, hair products etc., for their daughters.
In a world where young girls in particular are put under increasing pressure to look perfect and are judged by appearances, surely we as parents should endeavour to build their self-esteem and encourage them to see their own self worth in terms of all their God-given talents, abilities and personality, not just their looks.
The wigs, make-up and gaudy dresses do nothing to improve dancing performance or increase potential to win (nor should they), so why are they there?
I also wonder what need have we for so-called 'solo' designer costumes? Each dance school has its own dancing costume, most of which are modest in appearance and cost, which should be sufficient for each dancer.
Where girls wear 'solo' designer costumes, which can cost upwards on £400, families are being put under increasing pressure to 'keep up with the Joneses' and spend money they can ill afford.
We value the Gaelic football tradition because it encourages 'pride in the parish', a sense of unity, of belonging, of team spirit and working together to produce something beautiful.
Surely this is also the true essence of what Irish dancing is all about, not the 'better than you' culture which is exuding from the fashion show mentality.
If there are parents out there, and unfortunately it appears that there are, who want to parade their children as junior models, then this is their prerogative, but the place for them is in a beauty pageant or fashion show and not an Irish dancing Feis.
I think it is time to take stock of what has happened to our Irish dancing. Where did this trend begin and how did it get such a foothold?
Who makes the rules? Who says 'good' dancers need fake tan and wigs? Who says they need 'solo' designer costumes?
And why are otherwise sensible mothers blindly following these rules without question - jumping on the fashion bandwagon?
Are children coming to the Feis to be judged on their appearance or their ability to dance? When is common sense going to prevail?
I wonder if I am the only parent who feels this way and would warmly welcome your column as a forum to open up debate on this issue.
Concerned Omagh mother
(name and address supplied)
