Ciara, for the most part now dances for hire, and for joy. She is considering going back to the Feis thing just to add to her experience. I love what she is doing. These days she puts the joy into the dancing, and will throw her arms a bit, and dance with a huge smile. When she dances with her young man dance partner, the glee on their faces is just what dance ought to be. They are just enjoying the dance, and each others company, trying to each throw some touch of flair in the moves to outdo the other. It is a joy to watch that, as opposed to the platform hogging, dog eat dog, thing that happens in competition. She often dances in ordinary costumes, saving the cosmic celtic thing for a show of some sort.

Our culture, music, and dance, is an expression of our indomitable spirit and love of the land and peoples from which we all sprang, whether we are the children of Ireland, or its grandchildren abroad. When it is expressed that way, it is a thing of beauty and pride. When it turns into a dog eat dog thing, it is ugly.

Mick