“You don’t know the good times when you’re in them."

This might be the theme of every great TV show, book, play, or movie. The massive sense of nostalgia and grief of remembering the past explain why it is painful to watch younger people experiencing those “good times” without any awareness or appreciation for them.

There is something bittersweet about growing up and understanding the true meaning of a time in your past life. For me, Irish Dancing was a wonderfully chaotic, stressful, and rewarding part of my everyday life for thirteen years. Looking back two years later, I now know those days were the “good times."

As I get older, my respect for the tradition, cooperation, and friendship of dancing has shaped my view of the world as a whole. In any sport, I believe there is are common themes of companionship and strength in working towards a goal with others that enriches young people and opens them to be more compassionate, understanding, and empathetic individuals.

The tragedy of today is what I see when little girls at dancing competitions shake with nerves as they approach the stage, or cry in pain as their moms attach a giant curly wig to their head. And the boys who are bribed with video games in order to complete the mixed 8-hand, and their teachers who b*tch in disappointment when their dancers don’t place well; These people make me want to shake them in an effort to realign their priorities and remind them of the true meaning of dancing.

Being sucked into a world where a lot of time is spent on the shade of your legs, the volume of your wig, and the amount of crystals on your dress is both exciting and superficial. Although it feels good to be the best dressed in the room, standing on a podium, and holding your trophy high to the sound of a bouncy reel, it is not the most important part of dancing.

Instead, it is important that children, especially in my experience of Irish Dancing, understand that the teamwork, the hard nights in the studio, and the blisters on their toes are all a part of something bigger than themselves. The excitement of competition is about a common respect for dancing and the wonderful life that can come from being involved in such a sport. It is not about being the best just for the sake of being the best, but I find it more fulfilling to see a teenage girl finally walk onto a stage with enough confidence in her preparation to enjoy her dance in front of the judges.

I am not joining the team of yippy moms that believe in participation trophies and picking up their kids from class early because “it was hard” or “they are tired” because work ethic and strength are important. But in order to not get bogged down in the day to day practice schedule and snooty competitive moms, we can’t forget about the magic of Irish Dancing.

This magic stems from the sense of community and a good slip jig that makes a girl smile when she hit the stage. It’s seeing your teachers more than your mom and wanting to make her proud. It is a collective effort to keep the traditions of your ancestors alive, and it’s a few blissful weekends a year spent with the people that understand you more than the rest of the world.

Savoring these ideals will help all dancers “know the good times while they’re in them.