Irish Dance Research Papers

In a world full of bright stage lights, curly wigs, fake tanned legs, and bedazzled dresses, competitive Irish dance seems more like a Toddlers and Tiaras episode than an actual sport. However, behind all of the glitz and glam, Irish dance not only taught me how to put on a full face of makeup and lace my ghillies, but how to use my experiences from failure to benefit future success.
Through setbacks and defeat in dance competitions, I learned to let go of my insecurities and allow my potential and hard work to shine on stage and in real life. On one occasion after botching new steps in a dance routine, I ran offstage with mascara running down my face as countless bobby pins poked into my scalp. Utterly disappointed, I sought solace in blaming …show more content…
With words of reassurance and positivity, my teachers theorized the reason behind my mistakes in competition: a real fear of letting go. They then gave me advice I would never forget, “Fake it till you make it,” I was told with loving smiles. They explained to me that a dance performance was like a play or a musical; similar to how actors portray different roles in theater, dancers should pretend to be confident even when they feel like running off stage in fear of messing up. Fearing failure in competition, nervousness limited me dancing to my full potential, which resulted in substandard results. Ironically, a sense of perfectionism held me back, curbing my willingness to try new routines and steps unless I knew precisely how to perform them.
Returning home from competition, my instructors’ advice changed my entire outlook on my dancing career. From that point onward, I challenged myself to dance to my full potential, whether practicing in my cluttered garage or onstage at the national level. I discovered the harder I pushed myself to my limit and gave it my all, the easier it became to achieve my goals and