Irish Jig

Elizabeth danced the Irish Jig at her final school assembly today. This time I got it all on camera. She hasn’t forgiven me for missing the end of the Hornpipe when my phone battery ran flat.

It’s nice for her to see herself dance as it’s not something she gets to do very often. Filming is not permitted at dance competitions and there aren’t many other opportunities. She only just learnt how to do the heel clips in the last step on the weekend and practised all this week. They’re a good crowd-pleasing step so there was no question of not including them. They look easier than they are. I tried and nearly fell over. Go on, I dare you, give it a try.

As with many Scottish dances the Irish Jig has a backstory. It’s about an angry Irish washer woman, hence the stamping and fist-shaking, who is angry with her husband for spending too much time getting drunk at the pub. Male dancers who dance this get to be the laid-back happy-go-lucky husband. Elizabeth is meant to be angry but it’s hard to wipe the smile off her face when she’s performing.

Ben took some photos.