I JUST have to say that I agree 100% with the everything that 'Concerned Omagh Mother' wrote in last week's paper in relation to Irish Dancing Feis Values.
I have two young daughters who have been learning to dance for a couple of years. We wanted them to dance because as the lady said, Irish dancing is part of our tradition, our culture and our heritage – the same reason that my son and daughters play Gaelic football, and the same reason that they take part in other Feis events.
My daughters love Irish dancing and I have no problem in purchasing the Dance School costume, but I have to draw the line at the solo costume, the fake tan, the make-up and those hideous looking wigs, not to mention the sparkly socks and the tiara's. There is even a stall at the Feis selling all the stuff... surely this tells its own story.
I had a conversation with a mother at the recent Feis and we were discussing this issue of wigs and tan etc. The sad thing was that she admitted that when she started she was adamant that she would never get caught up in the circus... but like most others, over time she felt that it was essential if her children were to have any chance in the competitions that she gave in to pressure to conform.
Her advice to me was that, "If you want your children to do well they will have to wear the wig and all the other stuff that goes with it – straight hair will keep them back."
I have to hand it to the parents who have resisted the pressure and have put their children on stage without the wigs, the make-up and tan and let their children go on stage to dance as best they can.
Aside from all the nonsense, and the fact that people have lost sight of what Irish Dancing is about, the whole set-up has become so expensive that it will deter people from taking part. Surely this is not what our culture and heritage is about.
I want my children to learn about their culture and heritage. I want them to have pride in who and what they are. I want to enjoy watching them dancing on the stage and playing on the football field. The day my children come to me crying because they want to look the same as the other dancers is the day I will regrettably take them away from the dancing and this will be a sad day for me.
I know from talking to other parents that they are becoming disillusioned with the whole set up, and one parent I spoke with recently has taken her child away from the dancing because she felt "enough was enough."
I wonder if the Feis organisers and Dance Schools will be brave enough to put an end to the circus before it puts an end to Irish Dancing.
Concerned Omagh father
(Name and address supplied)
