Drake Irish Dance, one of the most prestigious Irish Dance Schools in the United States, was founded in 1990 in Atlanta, GA by Dublin Ireland native, Karl Drake. Since its beginning, Drake Irish Dance has branched out across the southern states. After establishing itself in five southern states, Karl Drake went global by expanding into Mexico and China. Drake Irish Dancers have a record of competitive achievements to include Regional and National Champions as well as World Medal holders. In addition to competitive achievements, the Drake Irish Dance Troupe recently travelled all the way to Shangai China in March 2013 where they performed at Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre and Dulwich College Shanghai, China. We look forward to sharing many performances through this youtube channel.
I just love Irish dancing I’m Australian we saw Lord of the Dance when it came out here Last week I went to the Civic theatre in Newcastle NSW we saw a taste on Ireland it was great 😊 Irish dancing is loved here. My grandmother and my great grandparents were Irish I have been to Ireland 3 time the last time we took my granddaughter we stayed down in around Blarney Cork ❤
I had a £30 dress for Irish dancing. It was plain purple and had a little bit of bling on the collar. It was modest and pretty and I loved it. I gave it to my ex Irish Dancing teacher. I got it on Amazon
Those wigs are awful looking same with the heavy makeup on these awesome excellent dancers ! Lord of the dance has the right idea for the costumes . those poor young girls dancing in those heavy uncomfortable wigs and make up going into the eyes as you sweat " I don't think its right , the boys are the lucky ones lol . But wow these girls are so awesome " love watching them both boys and girls so much fun to watch ! When the men dance it sounds like drums going off , love it ! Went to see River Dance when they came to Connecticut in the U S A Would love to see them 100 more times ! I would have loved to of learned this dancing myself , wish they of had it around here when I was young , but I can enjoy watching its so powerful . 💖⭐
After many vids I'm finally going to say this........... those wigs are hideous. It takes away from the dancer rather than accentuate her beauty (including the dance). Those wigs look like the crazy boofant-ish hairdo's those obsessive mothers have done of their little 5 yr-olds for beauty pageants. Ridiculous.
i would like to know what happened to Micheal Flatly? He has the most energetic personality. Just to look at him one can feel his passion. He is brilliant.I never get tired to watch him.
Lord of the Dance is still Michael Flatley's production. I understand that his last performance was in 2016. He had to turn over the lead due to many physical issues brought about from intensive dancing for so many years.
I saw Lord Of The Dance with my daughter. It was the most breathtaking thing I had ever seen. My mothers family was Irish and I have always loved everything Irish despite living in the US.
Have you ever wondered why the Irish dance with their arms down by the side. Queen Elizabeth I Demanded the Irish come and dance for her. The Irish were made to dance for her. But the refused to raise their arms for her. They kept their arms rigidly down by their sides in defiance of the Queen. The Irish wanted to show their fellow countrymen they were not enjoying themselves as they were forced to dance for her and the English. Than comes the Catholic Church. The tradition says that the clergy of that time didn’t want the young people to get too carried away with their dancing and this in turn might lead to some smooching. So they made the dancer carry a heavy stone in both hands so that they had to keep them by their sides when dancing with the opposite sex as to prevent them from holding hands during the dances. So The straight arm style dancing is a combination of things that has happened to the Irish. And that is how Straight arm style dancing came to be in Ireland.
Fun fact. Flat Footing Clogging Buck Dancing (African America) Pow Pow (American Indian) and square dancing which come out of the Mountains of North Carolina. All can trace their roots back to the Irish Dance. If you watch people preform from North Carolina they dance straight armed. Add a little sand to the Floor and you shag dancing which started in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.
Thanks for the information about the history of its influence in dance cultures . I am half Native American Indian and African American. That explains why I am attracted to the Irish dancing.
I LIKE WATCHING IRISH AND SCOTTISH DANCERS ON HERE. PLUS IRISH AND SCOTTISH ARE PART OF MY FAMILY BACKGROUND. THE KILTS SUITS AND WOMEN COSTUMES ARE PRESENTABLE, HAND MADE WITH HIGH QUALITY AND RHYTHM OF SHOES ON STAGE. IT BRINGS OUT THE BEST AND BEAUTY OF BOTH CULTURES. I LIKE THE SOUND OF BAGPIPES AND SWORD DANCING. IT IS GOOD TO SEE MALES PARTICIPATING IN DANCING. IT BUILDS STRONGER LEGS, INCREASE YOUR REFLEXES AND YOUR AGILITY. IT WILL HELP MALES TO PERFORM BETTER IN BOXING, MARTIAL ARTS AND MORE.
I’m only in dancing a year and I’m in a really high grade and I won the nationals and the worlds ❤️👯♀️ Irish dancing is my life I would give up anything for it! ❤️
For god sake the wigs and dresses are not stupid some irish dancers wear them because of tradition i think the dresses are beautiful for the people who slag of irish dancers because of the wigs and dresses then its your problem
No one is slagging the dancers if they dislike the damn wigs. The wigs ARE ridiculous. And there is tradition and there is fashion. The wigs are fashion, traditionally a Colleen that was dancing would have her hair loose. How natural hair can even be compared to a huge, curled to within an inch of its life helmet of artificial hair is beyond me.
Tiny skirts and drop waist dresses covered in leopard print are not tradition lol they’re just ugly. I see too many kids with legs tanned nearly black, and more bronzer than a kardashian. If it won’t change, then we as an irish dance community need to accept that the competition look is truly garish. Because it is.
I wish I started when I was younger. Because then I would’ve gotten all of the technic down by the time I started doing bigger/ longer dances. I’m 14 down and I’m only a beginner and I dance with 6-12 year olds but I still try to do my best.
I know some of you think that Irish dancing is ruined by the dress and wigs and makeup. That's your opinion. But it's not about that at all. If someone walked on the stage in a black skirt and leotard and no make up and their normal hair they would get judged the exact same. Irish dance is beautiful with or without makeup,wigs and the dresses.
Dancer_ 22 UNDERSTOOD! Check out all star cheerleading in the U.S.We get judged the same way. however the athleticism in the sport is insane. So know you all have Many who understand and respect you for WHAT YOU DO not how you look doing it! 😘
@Dancer_22...I am American and just discovered these awesome videos. The dance is amazing. Everything about this art is amazing. I am curious about the wigs. Do they represent something about the dance?
@@superhetoricNo, that’s just a myth lol. Curls got standardized in the 1980s, and people started wearing wigs in the late 90s because it was easier than using curlers. Updo wigs are popular now and they don’t bounce at all.
I have wanted to scream this from the roof tops, an American teacher featured. Body shames dancers, gossips on how ugly they are, horrible person. I'm a parent and stood toe to toe. Why do the need to scream and intimidate? Is anybody hearing me. If you want to shout out a great teacher, say it. She was not my daughter's teacher but a shout out to Myra Watters.
I starting dancing when I was 4 and I'm now 14. I broke my foot 13 months ago and had to undergo 2 oparations to try and fix it. I had to give it up because my foot would never be able to come with it. I was so sad I cryed for hours. I got 2 compeate in 3 worlds and never got to do any more
@@amberslahlize7961 ofc there is. Many Irish people and people of Irish descent(and folk with no Irish heritage at all for that matter) may have done a bit of Irish dance in their youth, and haul it out on social occasions. People step dance at parties. There are many places where folk still dance so called “folk dances” and can throw out a jig or a reel or a clog dance.
The most annoying thing of being an Irish dancer is probably the heavy make up you have to wear and the wigs,,I have been Irish dancing for 8 years and I came 2nd in World Championship
celines doughter and my partner with 5 times world champ Claire on the same floor I done my dancing I cant believe its still there and going stronger how many dancers have gone through celine hessians hands its mad
Having watched this it just reminds me all the painful hard work over all the years these dancers endure so we might have the pleasure of watching you all i feel very humble watching you.Thank you all so very much
