I am approaching this from the viewpoint of a musician and a senior dancer. I have danced competitively for the last 10 years. I curl my own hair, my mother has made all my costumes, i do wear fake tan and make up(but I do that on a night out as well). the problem with kids competing in anything - dance, music, sports, art, chess, quizzes scouts, guides, first aid...anything is that the parents or adults can become very competitive in themselves and want their children to be the best. Recently I attended a competition where, because his child came 4th in a very high standard not-a-competition-you-want-to-be-adjudicator-for competition, a father told the mother pf the winner to telll the adjudicator that her child shouldnt have won because she wasnt good enough. People (parents) need to relax and realise that it is about taking part. they have made the competitions that farce that they are today. Every child should be encouraged to take part. I refuse to let the parents of my music students come in to the comps unless the child asks for them. This way they cannot stress the child or panic them before they compete. Parents need to take a back seat and relax....be there to see the look on a childs face if they get something and say you did your best theres always next time if they didnt


A point on something someone said earlier - Comhaltas does not run step dancing competitions and had no involvement in this film. CLRG the Irish dancing commission organised these world championships.

Also many musicians do nhot understand the term "dance speed" and are of the opinion that a dancer should be able to dance at what ever speedd that they play at. I dont know if you are one of these michaelr but if you are it is no wonder that you didt enjoy your day as a Comhaltas dancing musician