Posted on 06/02/2013 1:49:46 AM PDT by ansel12
This video from "Riverdance" is a powerful image of the female and of the West, how many of us would hack our way through half of Europe to protect? possess? what?
dig it.
These chicks look like they eat and eat real food, as opposed to ballerinas.
I know several ballerinas. They are beautiful, because they are my friend but, they are way to small for me.
Just a function of their job requirement.
I’d rather be with a gal that does four square...
and a 1.... and a 2... and uh doh see doh...
An oldie but goodie.
Imagine them trying to do that while wearing a burqa?
In the first minute or so, did you notice the redheaded dancer left-front? She was the only one who smiled as she danced for us; all the others had such a look of fierce concentration on their faces.
But I fell in love with Riverdance when first I saw it that year. I recently even tried to take up Irish dance myself; old bones won’t respond to it anymore...
I used to be a competitive Highland Dancer as a teenager, SCD is where old HD folks go.
As far as I know, the 1996 video of Riverdance with Michael Flatley and Jean Butler has never been released on DVD. A real shame. Excellent version of the show.
But the whole point of dancing is to be strenuous and get some exercise so you don't get fat. I like Irish dancing because if you're carrying a few extra pounds you can still do it until the pounds are gone.
My daughter and I used to do it together. Huge fun. But yes, very aerobic. That's good in cold weather. And it's nice to be at an Irish bar or festival or something and know what to do.
The 1995 first show is on YouTube and you can download it there.
I was, as I said, a competitive Highland Dancer. This is the Sword Dance or "Gille Calum" - one of the required three dances for the Novice division:
The middle steps are your option, the first and last are always the same - I think this is a 3:1 (I lost count) the last is always at almost double tempo.
The girl in red is doing a very showy, 'high' style - note the full extension in 2nd position in the air - (and she runs out of gas a little bit) while the girl in green is doing what I would consider a more consistent and elegant interpretation. Both however are extremely strenuous.
You cannot continue to do this past around 30 (unless you really WANT a torn ACL), and for competition it's like gymnasts, you're washed up at 18.
The nice thing about Scottish Country Dancing is that you can dance it in the "high" style, or you can simply walk through it (at least the slower dances), depending on what you can stand. I am still able to get in the middle of the Eightsome Reel and show off a bit - but that's only for 16 bars, so it's do-able. 64 bars of Gille Calum is way too much for me these days.
You can see that some folks (the guy in the red kilt & his partner) are showing off a little (not just the Fling steps in the center but the twice round with locked arms) while some other folks are phoning it in (you really shouldn't phone it in in the Eightsome unless you are actually physically constrained.)
I wonder if Flatley is blocking a DVD release?
I really look forward to seeing it in high quality, parts of it just make me want to grab a battle ax and fight for womanhood.
Drink some Michael Kallen whisky.
You’ll be up for Carnegie Hall.
Hard to believe it was 18 years ago!
I’m impressed!
Here is the Highland Dance interpretation of Irish dancing (one of the specialty competitions):
Irish Jig (Highland style) (that ought to really hack off the Irish . . . :-) )
And my very favorite dance of all, the Lilt, which is danced to the very poignant pipe tune "Battle of the Somme":
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