Page 18 - life-in-naples-march-2016

SITrEisPh

DANCING

by Sandra Lee Buxton M y DNA indicates that I am more than a third
Irish, which gives me the authority to speak
on a subject that I know nothing about, Irish
Step Dancing. Who hasn’t seen and loved

watching “Riverdance?” If that didn’t encourage you

to call for lessons or lay down with mental exhaustion,

well then nothing would. I checked into the history of

this form of dance and became even more intrigued. I

followed up with two local authorities that teach this art

and thought that you might find it interesting as well.

First a little history: The traditional music was

originally meant for dancing at celebrations, weddings, saint’s days or other

observances. Tunes are usually divided into two eight-bar strains which are each

played as many times as the performers feel is appropriate. At least ten instruments

were used in creating the music for the reel, hornpipe and jigs.

The music and dance have roots in pre-Christian Ireland. Traveling dance

masters taught all over Ireland beginning around the 1750’s and continued as late as

the early 1900’s. Irish dancing has evolved and adapted to accommodate and reflect

changing times blending with new cultures. It is often said that the stiff upper body

18 Life in Naples | March 2016