Anne-Marie Rogan talks to Valerie and Julie about Irish dancing
My father and his family used to dance and he was keen to see me follow on the tradition so I started learning when I was seven. I continued and competed in the All-Ireland competitions in which the standard is extremely high. These annual competitions allow all ages and styles to compete and I competed in both the team dancing and individual rounds. At 17 I decided to focus on team dancing and my school went on to do gala performances in Belgium. After this, I taught for the world-wide Irish dance club, the Comhaltas for four years.
What is special
to you about Irish dancing?
I’ve always loved watching formation dancing as it is very precise
team work. How you hold your head and carriage is important. Yet even
within this structure, there is an individuality that the teacher can
bring out. Even how you walk on or off the stage can be done in lots of
ways. Every part of Ireland has different ways of dancing, rather like
an accent. However, at a Ceili all these styles are brought together and
celebrated – a Ceili means music, recites and alcohol – together!
During the Rose of Tralee I danced a free-style solo accompanied by a
bodhran (Irish drum) player. I loved this dance as it was a fight between
the instrument and the dance. I acted as a shadow by copying his beat
with my dance. It was fantastic!
How do you feel when you hear
Irish music or dance to it?
When I hear Irish music I can’t help but want to dance and when
I watch Micheal Flatley I want to learn his steps straight away! Sharing
my love of dance gives me so much satisfaction, it’s unbelievable
when I see the people I’ve taught dancing. I get such a buzz, I
can’t explain the feeling. If I couldn’t dance it would be
the worst disaster ever for me – I’d have to dance with my
hands!
How did you join the ‘Gotta
Dance’ team?
I’d been thinking about teaching again for a long time but felt
it wasn’t going to happen. Then I had a chance meeting with Valerie
in Ecosse one night and suddenly it seemed like it could – it felt
too good to be true! After I’ve taught this season I’m looking
forward to learning a different style of dance and the club offers me
the chance to share my love of Irish dancing then to develop myself in
other areas of dance – it’s like going on your first date
but ten-fold!
For you, what is the Club
about?
It’s all in the title, Gotta Dance! Just enjoy yourself and have
a laugh. Let your inhibitions out.
Ann-Marie