Growing up, Holy Week was more than just the week leading up to Easter – it was the pinnacle of my year. In the most Irish-Catholic turn of events in history, Holy Week for the Irish Dance community is the week of the CLRG World Irish Dance Championships. Easter Sunday Mass was usually spent in a ballroom seated next to my dearest friends and competitors, and my teachers at school just accepted the fact that I would not be there for my class’s live Stations of the Cross – or anything during Holy Week.
But now, as a twenty-something on the verge of the real world, I still find myself glued to a computer looking for results from this elite competition and chatting with other dance world has-beens about what went down. If this sounds like you, believe me, you’re not alone.
Here are the main things giving all former Irish Dancers major FOMO about the Worlds this week.
1. Everyone tagging City West in their photos
City West wasn’t the best venue ever for the Worlds (I mean what can top dancing on stage at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow), but the people running the show at Dublin majors know how to do it right. The competitions are run well, and the entertainment outside the actual competition is unusually a blast. Plus the full-costume photos on the golf course were always prime.
2. Seeing people from your school kick butt (literally and figuratively) in their solo competitions
You have been beaming with pride non-stop from 4,000-ish miles away as your dance family has been crushing it on stage. Plus, the Irish Dance World is small enough that you find yourself cheering on people you know of but don't actually know. Who knew school spirit and sportsmanship follow you even after you hang up your solo dress?
3. Checking out the new styles that Gavin, Elevation, Rising Star and beyond have come up with
Will someone FINALLY figure out how to effectively use mirrors on a costume? You won't know for sure if you're not there in person to scout the latest #TRENDS.
4. All. The. Dublin. Touristy. Photos.
I don’t know if it’s the family tie to Dublin or my general love of an authentic Guinness, but man do I wish I could at least go be a tourist there this week. Raise a glass of Jameson or Irish Coffee to cope friends.
5. Snaps from your friends who still compete
Through my years of dance, I have friends from all over the world, many of whom are still competing. And when you get snaps from those friends who live oceans apart from each other, you’re just like, “UGH, WHY AM I NOT THEREEE? I MISS YOU ALL.”
