One of the groups of ethnic dancers at the Festival of nations was Irish. This is the kind of kick-your-legs ramrod-spine dancing popularized by that show Lord of the Dance or Lord of the Rings or Lord of the Flies or whatever it was. In this style, the legs flail every which way while the rest of the body from the hips up remains as motionless as possible and the face is drained of expression. It’s like making love in a straightjacket, like aerobics for people with completely fused spines. I don’t get it, even though I am of Irish heritage. In fact, I don’t believe that real traditional dancers in Ireland do this stuff. I think a constipated choreographer looking for a big stage hit made it up. WHAT’S MAKING ME GO AAHHH… : the Pacific Ocean is on one side of us and the temperate rainforest on the other. I think it’s heaven, but then I’m Strangetastes.
TOMORROW: one of the friends of today’s dancer, with some Photoshopical interpretation.
9 comments:
I find the dance fascinating and would love to see one performed live (no Irish dancers in the Philippines). Though I think you do have a valid point. ;)
HA, you are right about that. Can't imagine watching that for an entire evening. I am fascinated with her hair. Was it real????
What ever happened to Michael Flatley anyway? For a while there, thanks mainly to PBS, you couldn't get rid of the guy. Now he's vanished.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing.
If he's dead I'm going to feel like a schmuck.
Your comments today made me laugh. I have wondered how this type of straight-backed type of dancing ever got started.
I've never seen a costume like that - facsinating.
She looks like an extra from the film Metropolis. Lord have mercy.
(Chuckle) I do love that they all have elastic legs, or springs built into their footwear. I'm assumnig from the photo that she is the softshoe type of Irish danger. I prefer to watch the cloggers though as I love percussion.
I love this kind of dancing. I also love the Irish singers. They are ladies. Wow. I am always impressed with either one of these. Dancers or singers.
And excellent post and the photo is very nice as well.
I just discovered your blog. I'm going to have to add it to my Google Reader! Love all your photos, they're amazing!
P.S. I'm a STL area Paralegal "by day" and an [aspiring] photographer "by night". =D
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