From Riverdance to Barrie: How Irish dance has evolved
Not surprisingly, St. Patrick's Day is the busiest day of the year for Irish dancers.
Dancers from the Hamilton School of Irish Dance in Barrie spent hours preparing their routines to perform various shows around Simcoe County.
"It's the one day of the year that Irish dancing is very, very much appreciated by everybody, and they get to share it in a different way than typically we do at competitions," said Hamilton Irish Dance School instructor and owner Deirdre Hamilton.
Hamilton was formerly the lead in Riverdance before opening her school in Barrie and knows firsthand how much the sport has evolved.
"Real traditional Irish dancing was very different than what it looks like today. But it's evolved over time, and as athletes and performers get stronger, you know everyone is always pushing the boundaries of what can be done physically," Hamilton said.
Irish dance is no easy task.
Hamilton said many top dancers train with personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches.
"We dance at least four times a week, and I understand how athletes they train four times a week in the gym or something like that. I don't think they understand the endurance that we have is just as similar as theirs," said Hamilton Irish dancer Alexandra Sinyanskiy.
There are two styles of Irish dance.
The first is soft shoe which is lively, with lots of jumps and high kicks with similarities to ballet.
The second style is called hard shoe, which is very strong and powerful, with lots of loud noise and is similar to tap dance.
The dancer's ages range from as young as five to adult. Hamilton says you don't have to be Irish to be an Irish dancer.
"It used to be, you know, people felt like they needed an Irish connection to be involved in Irish dance, but really these days, it's for anybody. Riverdance and Lord of the dance and all those great shows made it so visible to everybody," said Hamilton.
Next, the Hamilton Irish dancers are preparing for upcoming local competitions and the World and North American Irish dance Championships, where they will represent Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.