APART from ‘What is Michael Flatley really like?’ the first question I am usually asked when people ask about my profession is ‘What's with those big wigs?’
Wigs. Honestly, that's their first question. Never mind enquiring about the half a million dancers the world over partaking in our traditional dance form, most having no Irish roots, training and competing to Olympian standards and travelling from all four corners of the globe to have a shot at winning our coveted World Champion title... The first question is always about our appearance. And I am bewildered.
Earlier this year, An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) - the world’s biggest Irish dancing organisation - released a new rule, stating that any competitors under the age of, and including, under 10-years-old are forbidden to wear tan or make up of any description on stage. The Irish media went wild.
In a somewhat ignorant fashion, journalists took to their keyboards to remark on how inappropriate children were being 'made up' in competitive Irish dance.
In my humble opinion, the articles were under-researched and highly opinionated. Rebuttals from Irish dancers the world over were blogged, tweeted and re-tweeted in defence. It really was, quite exciting. I was highly entertained.
Now, I understand that on first glance we look quite out of the ordinary. Mahogany tanned legs? Head full of clip on curls? Add that to the costumes adorned with Swarovski crystals and geometric neon embroidery that's quite the opposite too anything you would see in The Book Of Kells, and well, we have quite the unique look going on there.
And that’s what it is. Unique. Ours. A statement look that has evolved over the years. There is no right and wrong answer to the argument. It's the evolution of our art form.
Ciara SextonWe live in a world of convenience, and anything that can help and aid us in taking less time is always a winner. The fights I used to have with my mother whilst she sat curling my hair for three hours the night before a competition were painful for the whole family. Back combing, moussing, spraying and wrapping my mouse brown locks so tightly around a perming curler became a regular on a Saturday evening. It was torture and often resulted in tears. A sleepless night would usually follow.
The result - one cranky little jigger the next day. I remember she used pipe cleaners once... The next day saw three dancing mothers sat with myself in the middle, each with a pair of scissors, cutting chunks out of my tangled, still half straight, hair. Not my finest moment!
In 1999 I gladly welcomed the introduction of wigs. And so did my split ends. Hurrah! Something that saves our hair; requires little effort and means we get a good night’s sleep. For me it was a no brainer. The pure convenience meant that they were a firm favourite with the dancing community.
Often, the negative reaction to the appearance of competitive Irish dancers is because Irish dancing is such a niche dance form. We wear no more make up than those on Strictly Come Dancing... no more fake tan than the skaters in Dancing on Ice.
A quick Google search will reveal that Disco dancers aged four and up wear neon lycra outfits, eyelashes and crop tops to compete. This is their style. This is their unique look. It’s a lot more extreme to me than the typical Irish dancer. However, who am I to question a subject that I know nothing of? I am still wondering why this age long argument crops up from time to time in disgust at our appearance. Is it simply society rejecting the unfamiliar?
Perhaps if I approach Simon Cowell with a new Irish dance based TV show, we would be far more accepted for the way we look due to prime-time Saturday night viewing.
Irish dancers would finally get their wish of people looking passed the tan and witnessing the marvellous talent they have and being recognised for their skill and athleticism. Perhaps next time, that's what the journalists can comment on.
Ciara Sexton is currently starring as the principal dancer in Heartbeat of Home. You can follow Ciara on Twitter @CiaraSexton
