why do the irish dance with their arms down?

While watching the dancers I wondered why they hold their arms by their sides, rather than move their arms around. Any form of hip swaying was not allowed either. Movement of the arms is sometimes incorporated into modern Irish stepdance, although this is … There is an emphasis on making percussive sound with the … Telephone: 020 8902 0150. It was fascinating - very clever and entertaining. Keep your arms straight and at your sides. They therefore made their students dance with their arms in a fixed position, holding a stone on the hand to keep them in a fist. So why do Irish dancers keep their hands rigidly by their side? This doesn’t seem too likely though does it? Sometime in that decade or the one following, a dance teacher had his students compete with arms held firmly down to their sides, hands in fists, to call more attention to the intricacy of the steps. To ensure there was no chance of any sneaky canoodling going on, … However, it seems strange, considering this law, that the Irish were called to perform their own dances. “One theory is that, when the English came into Ireland the Irish weren’t allowed to do their dance. Some wigs arrive styled and trimmed, but others are … According Irish dance teacher Antonio Pacelli. This is done to try to cut down on bar brawls. Also, dancers were instructed to dance a step twice—first with the right foot then with the left. Many alleged reasons relate in some way to the English occupation of Ireland, and the subsequent suppression of Irish culture. Irish dance only uses your legs: For the most part this is true. Priest posts hilarious response to anonymous late night ‘sexy text’. First and foremost, the dancing could not be suggestive. These dancers refused to raise their arms to her, and kept them rigidly by their sides as they danced out of defiance, and possibly to show they were not enjoying themselves as they danced for her and the English. Share it with your Facebook friends! All these ideas are rather sketchy, and it seems unlikely that any person, whether they be English or Clergy, when seeing a person bouncing up and down, would pass without suspicion of what they were doing! In traditional dances, arms should be firmly at your sides — it’s what makes Irish dancing so recognizable. And even in Step Dancing, mainly under the influence of Michael Flatley’s Riverdance, the old convention has been relaxed and we now see more use of the arms. One possible explanation that is often quoted is that it’s down to the power of the Catholic Church, which exerted so much control over Irish life right up until the 1970s. Touted as a great source of mental and physical exercise, it’s also just plain fun. While many of the contemporary and show dance styles of Irish dance have a more relaxed upper body and make use of the arms, the traditional form of Irish dance still keeps the arms close to the sides of the body. But yes, traditional and purist Step Dancing, as still taught by Irish dance schools across the world, still requires the arms to be kept still. As already mentioned, Catholicism also seems to be a theme for these stories. Some dancers keep their arms directly at their sides. It is said that, especially when the dancers performed for … Irish dancers keep their arms straight down because back then, people would put the Irish in jail. The most believable theory, which is supported by many historians of Irish dance, is that the Dance Masters of the 18th century were responsible. Unlike the Hollywood-style dances of Riverdance, Quinn says traditional Irish dancers hold their arms straight at their sides. The price increases with the length and number of curls. Back in the "old" days, when men used to wear swords around their waists, they would have to clamp their arms down at their sides (over the sword) to prevent it from swinging around and causing damage while they were dancing. The Irish responded, so the theory goes, by keeping their arms still so the British would not be able to tell they were dancing if they say them through the windows of a country house, behind a hedge or behind the bar in a pub. Those of natural-looking, synthetic fibers might cost more than $100. So this is why the girls started dancing with their arms held to their sides like two boards. When children are born in Ireland, they break their arms so that they hang limp to their sides. Why the irish dance that way. It is thought by some that they may have originally made dancers hold one or both hands on the hip, and the completely straight arms came at a later date. your own Pins on Pinterest made as part of a competition for rte dance on the box in march 2005.it was overall winner with 3 other films. They liked etiquette, and disapproved of the unruly arm movements of Sean Nos dancing. Why do Irish dancers have straight arms? Read the various theories behind this distinctive feature of Irish dance! Irish dancers keep their arms straight down because back then, people would put the Irish in jail. Turn up that volume and listen closely…” The Queen in reference is probably Elizabeth I. The advent of Irish dance competition turned the Gaelic revival of the 1890's also impacted arm movements in Irish dance. She reportedly enjoyed Irish jigs, and it is known that dances of Irish origin were danced in her courts. Other explanations put forward include the theory that the stiff arms was a kind of protest by dancers who were forced to dance for Queen Elizabeth, who was responsible for starting the plantations of Ireland. The dancers had to keep their backs straight, their arms down and the smile was taken off the face. But there were a few stipulations. 3. in jail, they would dance to keep from going insane. It is quite possible that this event actually happened. The truth is that no one knows for certain what the real answer is but here we take a look at the various theories behind this distinctive feature of Irish dance.. HINT: Feet of flames -vs- ---- -- --- One such theory is that, during English occupation of Ireland the Irish dancers refused to use their arms as a way to protest the England’s suppression of Irish culture. Others put their arms slightly behind their backs so their hands are hidden. They therefore made their students dance with their arms in a fixed position, … Innova Irish Dance company impress the Judges with their jigging to chart topping tracks. im pretty sure that when ireland was under brittish rule they were not allowed to dance, they would dance under the table moving just their legs so the brittish wouldnt know they were dancing, now it is tradition, in many true irish restarunts the windows dont start till … Again, the oppression of Ireland. Mar 18, 2017 - Here is one theory on why Irish step dancers do not move their arms. It's actually quite difficult to keep one's arms still while moving one's feet so quickly. While watching the dancers had to be very stiff at their sides like two boards were brought to dance the. Their dance says traditional Irish dancers do their routine they do n't want to tense up being maintained primarily the... Making percussive sound with the … 2 made by zanita films and Ardmore studios Edwina -... 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