When I first began packing for majors, I would simply ensure I had everything I need for dance day. Wig? Check. Dress? Check. Hard shoes?Check. Soft shoes? Check. That’s what I’m going to the competition for, right? I quickly learned that what I packed for non-dance days required even more attention. By my second major, my packing list looked more like: Wig? Check. Dress? Check. Hard shoes? Check. Soft Shoes? Check. Carefully curated outfits for non-dance days…also check.
The week of a major competition is like fashion week for the Irish dance world. When they aren’t adorned in wigs and rhinestones, dancers are sporting the latest trends with enviable execution. Teachers, judges, and competitors alike treat those cramped ballrooms as their runway, clutching “the book” in one hand and caffeine in the other.
Just as Irish dancers look forward to seeing each other’s new dresses and choreography, they look forward to seeing what garb everyone has put together for their days off. What is the senior ladies champion rocking underneath her sash? Where did she get that top? Where should they take pictures for Instagram? Majors are not only a place where the top Irish dancers come together to compete, but a place where they can show off their knack for fashion.
Perhaps majors have evolved into a fashion show due to Irish dancers being performers by nature. As performers, the world is their runway and dancers are always ready to be seen; because of this, they put on the trendiest clothes and strut through the event halls. Irish dancers carry themselves with poise and style, making their very presentation a beautiful and genuine performance. Fashionable clothes are made to be seen, so who better to show them off than Irish dancers?
Some may credit the Irish dance world’s tendency to make major competitions fashion shows to the competitive nature of the sport. Who has the cutest platform sneakers? Who has the coolest outfit? Who can accessorize the best? It is important to note, however, that the competition part of majors exists only on the stage. There is no “best dressed” Irish dancer, although that title could easily be coined. Wearing the most stylish clothing should not be treated as an intimidation tactic. Everyone has their own taste and unique style, and that individuality is something the Irish dance world celebrates. Each solo dress is custom designed for a reason, after all.
Expressing yourself through fashion is a conduit for cultivating self-confidence. When someone feels good in not only the skin they’re in, but in the clothes they’re in, they radiate that confidence. Irish dance competitions, whether it is dance day or not, are arenas for intimidation. Wearing clothes that make someone feel fashionable when entering that arena can make all the difference to someone’s self-confidence. Everyone is there for the same reason, and each competitor is ultimately competing against themselves. What someone wears does not define them, but it can certainly make an integral internal difference.
Irish dance majors, which could also be known as Irish dance fashion week, serves the community as a means of self-expression. Dancers know how to present themselves in the way they want to be seen, which is a beautiful result of their training in stage presence and overall performance. The fashion aspect of dance competitions is a welcome facet that keeps the week of majors vibrant and full of individuality.
