Episode 1 Jigs and Wigs: The Extreme World of Irish Dancing

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Riverdance's seminal Eurovision

performance, which thrilled and inspired a worldwide audience.

CHEERING

The dance form has since proved immensely popular and is now

practised by people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds,

from every corner of the globe.

In Bray, County Dublin,

the Fegan School of Dance has always been inclusive,

and a particular Traveller family are showing plenty of promise.

This is my second cousin Joanne O'Brien.

My third cousin Mary O'Brien. My third cousin Bridget Connors.

My first cousin Nan O'Brien, my third cousin Jean O'Brien

and I'm Jim O'Brien.

My favourite sport is Irish dancing.

Because, I'm, like,

I'm probably four years at it.

This school of dance is called

the Fegan School of Irish Dancing

and my teacher's called Pauline Fegan.

Good.

My names Bridget Connors, I'm 13, and I dance for Pauline Fegan.

One more time, OK?

I think there's about seven or eight other Travelling girls -

and boy - in my dancing class with Pauline.

I wouldn't say there are much Travellers out there competing.

Besides us that dance with Pauline.

Pauline is probably the best dance teacher in Ireland

and probably one of the best in the world.

If you make a mistake she makes you do it properly.

Up, up, up and over. Up with the right leg, Jim,

you're losing your time a little.

I'm very lazy at dancing.

I go to about two, three classes a week.

And out of them I practise about, say, one day at all at home.

I could be a lot better if I tried.

You are so lazy. I have to get you dancing by Friday.

It's our first class in about ten weeks.

The focus of Jim and Bridget's training

is the Leinster Championship,

where they can qualify for the 2014 World Championships in London.

My dream is to win the Leinster.

Then probably the Irish Nationals, then the World's.

Well done, Jim, sleep well. Bye, now. See you tomorrow.

Nan, see you Wednesday.

For class, OK? Good girl. Don't forget, now.

Half six to half eight tomorrow, here. Yeah, don't forget, now.

I live in Burton Hall.

Burton Hall is a Travelling site.

I know everybody in the site.

We're all family, so we all talk the same, we all get on the same.

We know each other better than anybody else.

There's been a change at home for Bridget recently

with the arrival of her new baby brother, Miley.

Having a new baby in the house means that I've a bit more work to do

and it is a bit harder to get down to class.

Everyday I get up, get dressed, I come in here.

I make the boys' lunches.

Clean up after it and make sure that everything's in their bags.

But if I was a boy and the eldest I wouldn't have to make lunches.

Just cos I'm a girl.

So...

Kind of have to do it, like, cos you don't want to be...

You don't want people going round saying,

"Oh, no, there's a smell off her. Don't go into that house,

"there's a bad smell." I wouldn't have that, I'd die.

It actually helps a lot with dancing,

would you believe it? Because my legs are constantly moving,

so it's actually, I think...

I THINK it's good for me. I'm not sure.

I hope it is, because I never stop!

If I couldn't go dancing, I'd probably just crack up.

Before I get married and settled down, I'd like to be a beautician

and do nails and hair and makeup, and all that.

I kind of do want to continue doing dancing for a while.

You feel equal when you're dancing.

Everyone's the same. We all wear makeup and tan. We go to a feis

and there's loads of diamond stuff, and I'm not the only one buying them.

There's all other girls that aren't Travellers

as well buying them, so it just feels good.

Outside of dancing, I might be looked at differently.

Like an outcast or, like, whatever.

Going to a wedding, you'll be wearing whatever - all tan and makeup,

and your hair all fixed up, and short skirts and belly tops,

and high heels - and they're just looking at you,

like, "Where does she think she's going?!"

While Bridget is busy at home, Pauline works with Jim,

who has a problem with his timing.

This isn't helped by the fact that

Jim was recently diagnosed with partial deafness in one ear

and is awaiting treatment.

Listen, listen to the time, listen...

SHE SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS

So I need you to concentrate on your timing. You'll be last place

if your timing goes, OK? So we've got to listen very carefully.

I heard you're going to get grommets maybe in the summer.

I knew there was something wrong with my timing when they said

-I was 20% deaf in my ear, so...

-So you believe me?

-Yeah.

-You weren't believing me up till that, were you?

-No.

-You thought I was giving you a hard time, didn't you?

-Yeah.

Because I've been telling you for a long time it's a little bit out,

and I know you find it hard for me to tell you things like that

and you feel a bit hurt maybe because you've worked so hard,

but it's not your fault, you know?

Your ears are playing up a bit.

And I'm going to change your steps

so that the steps will be easy to recognise,

the beats might fit in to the music.

Your timing's going to improve, definitely going to improve.

And the world's yours then, Jim.

'Jim is very special because he loves his dancing.

'He loves the music, even though he's sometimes not in time.'

You can see him floating

like a little bird on the stage,

and he's fantastic on stage. Fantastic.

'No matter what Jim does in life,

'he's going to be very, very successful.

'And I do hope he keeps it up

'because it's going to take time to mature and learn.

'And I do think Jim can be a world-class dancer.

'But, you know, it's difficult for a boy

'because there's a lot of slagging out there

'and a lot of name-calling,

'and they have to be even stronger than the girls.'

Before I joined with Pauline,

I was really young and I was at one class,

but the teacher, she'd completely ignore you,

she'd send you over in a corner and...do this and do that.

You'd know she wasn't paying proper attention to you.

And you'd know she'd be discriminating against you

because you were a Traveller. You'd know straightaway, but...

It's very aggravating.

Then I came to Pauline, and Pauline's just amazing.

Pauline's really, really good. Like, she treats us all

like we're the same and, you know, there's no difference.

-Bolognese?

-OK.

-Just the one?

-Yeah.

-Did you enjoy yourself this morning?

-Yeah.

-How's your timing doing?

-It's all right.

Pauline asked me, was I getting grommets? And I said, I am.

Next month or during the summer, I said.

-Yeah.

-And she said,

"Oh, maybe that's why your balance and your timing's out all the time."

Yeah, because your hearing is low in one ear,

and you have to get your tonsils out as well.

So we have to build you up for that, haven't we?

Maybe put on a little bit of weight.

As far as I ever can remember, he's the only boy

in the Travelling community that does Irish dancing,

that picked up the Irish dancing.

Years ago, they did, like, but... they done it for fun.

Didn't do it for competitions or anything.

I love watching him dance.

-So does his granny.

-My granny comes to watch me dance all the time.

He's been always delicate.

He's a worry. A big worry, Jim is.

When he was young, he had septicaemia

and he couldn't even lift his limbs. So...

What could have been...

But believe me, nothing happened, thank God. Thanks be to God.

But it's just...when they tell you in the hospital

what could have happened...

So we're glad to have him

and we'll be just delighted with him dancing, that's it.

He hurls now as well, but his first priority is his Irish dancing.

And his cousins, they all hurl.

He never gets jeered or anything from them.

And all his friends, like, support him in it.

There's the big boy in the blue coat.

The big boy in the T-shirt is Michael, my brother.

And the little boy in the jersey is called Jim, he's my little cousin.

None of them dance.

I think it's really, really great and it's kind of cool

when you win all the trophies and medals.

And every time I play with him,

he runs, the way he jumps around Irish dancing.

Whenever the ball doesn't come to me, I'm just always, like...dancing.

He Irish dances for a second, then he stops, then he starts again.

My brother Michael, he doesn't Irish dance

because he thinks it's for girls.

Whenever Michael tells me Irish dancing's for girls,

I say to him, "No, it's not,

"because there's boys and girls doing Irish dancing.

"And in Riverdance, Michael Flatley did the lead, and he's a boy."

To get some feis practice before

the all-important Leinster Championships,

Pauline enters Bridget and Jim into the Irish Nationals,

held at City West, in Dublin.

I'm feeling really, really nervous, but, like,

it's funny being here as well

because the girls are here and it's good craic.

-What are the earrings?

-Just normal earrings.

-OK.

-For dancing?

-Yeah.

-Oh, no, no, no.

-Oh, studs.

Take them right out. Just studs. OK? You'll be jingling... Good girl.

Pauline, she always has a soft side and you always go to her if you need anything.

But when it comes to dancing properly, you need to, like,

be there or else, like, she'll kill you!

-She just wants us to do our best.

-Don't take your eyes off me.

Pull back your arms. Big strong beginning.

SHE HUMS

Jim really gets to focus on the steps when we're doing our makeup.

It's handier for him because he doesn't have to do all this.

Now, put your head forward.

I love the wigs. I know people have a lot of problems with the wigs,

but it does put the whole look together.

It just makes it more fun looking and more, like, professional, like.

Yeah. More fun, more professional,

-and I suppose it makes an effort.

-Yeah. It makes it look like

-you're putting in an effort.

-Yeah. You're beautiful, look.

It takes me ten minutes to get ready,

but it takes the girls about an hour.

I'm dancing in the Boys' 11-12, and I'm first on stage.

I've never been first on stage. A bit nervous.

And before too long Bridget gets her time on stage.

The results are in, and Bridget has not been placed.

Meanwhile, Jim and his family wait anxiously

to find out what position he has won.

When it comes to this stage, it always feels a bit nervous.

Especially in these competitions.

They go in the reverse order, so that's kind of a bit scary.

-ANNOUNCER:

-OK, now the results of the Boys' 11-12 years,

in reverse order...

In 19th place, it's number two, Jim O'Brien, from the Fegan School.

As he couldn't keep in time, Jim has placed dead last.

-He worked so hard.

-He did work so hard. He'll be disappointed in that.

Won't he? It's very disappointing, very disappointing.

I feel so upset for him because 19th is terrible.

The children know that 19th is, like, the last boy there.

You'll get the timing sorted. Don't worry, OK?

Be proud, you did very, very good.

You didn't deserve last place.

You need a good old cry now, OK?

I know you're upset, aren't you, darling?

Heartbroken at his poor result, Jim decides to quit Irish dancing.

Mary is coming round today, my first cousin,

and we'll hopefully get an hour or two of practice in.

We haven't been dancing in a week

because we've been very busy with Molly and everything,

so it's very bad, especially with the Leinsters coming up.

Some of the Travelling boys

that don't even live in the site come up and aggravate you.

"Traveller girls don't do that, that's for country girls."

I'm like, "Go away, mind your own business about me."

They've never seen any Travelling girls

doing anything like Irish dancing, don't see Travelling girls

going to a settler person's class

and doing what they do, acting like equals.

They don't see that, that's why they don't understand it.

-Brush.

-B-rush!

-Brush.

-B-rush!

-Hold.

-Hold...

-Keep going.

-Got it.

-Remember to move up. Ready, steady, go...

'I was very, very nervous at the Nationals.

'I didn't get placed and I wasn't happy with how I danced at all.

'I think I'm doing enough now,'

because I am trying.

But we'll see what happens at the Leinsters.

With their practice completed for the day,

the girls are getting ready to head out to the local shopping centre.

We don't use that much makeup, compared to some other girls.

-We don't wear our faces that...

-It's not that thick with makeup.

No, it's not that thick. But, like, if we were going to

a wedding or something, we'd do it a small bit thick.

But, like, not for just going off somewhere.

I'm 11 in April. Most Travelling girls do...

they get done up from a very young age.

I think it's important that I look well because...

I don't like people backstabbing me, like, about that,

you don't look nice and you're not clean, and all that carry-on.

So I try to look my nicest.

What I like about Irish dancing costumes is the diamonds,

and if a Traveller girl wore it,

you wouldn't, like, stand out to any other girl.

You'd be all the same. So, like, it makes you feel good.

If she keeps practising,

Bridget's mother has promised her a new dancing dress.

Of course, Bridget has her own ideas about how it should look,

so her aunt has taken her to see dress designer Ronan McCormack.

-Hello, how are you?

-I'm grand.

-Hiya, I'm Bridget's auntie.

-I just came with her today. Her mum couldn't make it.

-Nice to meet you. And, Bridget, how are you?

-Grand.

You're looking well decked out today,

between the bling and the fur!

Sit yourselves down, while we have a wee chat about this dress.

So I assume this is your costume you're wearing at the moment?

-Oh, yeah.

-Right. And are you happy with that dress?

-No, I hate it.

-You hate it?

-I hate it.

-What do you hate about it?

-It's too traditional.

-Too traditional.

OK. Well, the colours wouldn't be exactly

-green, white and orange.

-But I mean the design.

Right. The Celtic design. So have you got something in mind

-for what you'd like?

-Yeah. I know exactly what I want, yeah.

And am I right in saying, now, you were thinking of getting this

-for the Leinsters?

-Yeah.

-So do you have any sketches or anything

-that you've done?

-Yeah, I did.

I brought this. Now, I'm not the best drawer, so don't expect too much!

-Here it is.

-Right, let's have a look.

OK. So tell me about it.

-I want hot pink all around here.

-So that will be across the shoulders.

-The shoulders and the arms.

-Down your sleeves. Right.

And the stomach part of it - black, but just paved in diamonds.

I don't want to see any black.

-Nothing but diamonds.

-Now, here's the thing -

-that skirt looks very busy. Is that a tutu?

-Tutu, yeah.

-Right.

-And then there's a bow on the side.

-OK.

-And tell me about this neckline.

-I want the collar like a shirt.

OK, let me just do a shirt collar.

Right, and I suppose you'll want bling on that as well?

-Yeah, obviously.

-I have watched a few episodes of

-My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding...

-I'm not a Gypsy, I'm a Traveller.

Well, I just love the dresses. I don't envy anyone

having to wear the weight of them.

If it's going to have a load of bling, which is what I suspect,

-looking at your shoes today...

-It has to be.

-..that's not light.

-I really want a light one,

but if you can't do light, what can you do?

I want the diamonds. I have to have them, like.

Oh, the diamonds are important!

One thing I will say is, when something's a bit different,

it definitely helps catch the attention of the adjudicators

and the audience. But the problem with that is...

-If you do something wrong, yeah.

-..if you catch the attention,

you'd better prove you're worthy of that attention.

So you'd better dance well and you'd better put a performance up there

that makes it worth their while paying you that attention.

After just two weeks away from class,

Jim's passion for dance and ambition to make it

to the World Championships proved too much to resist.

He's back in training for the Leinsters.

Turn out the feet, turn out the feet!

'This week, I'm going to have to try and ask Jim to focus on me.

'He hasn't had his ear operation

'and he's sort of given up a little bit.'

I need you to keep your timing. Keep your timing

and you could win like last year. You lose your timing,

you're completely out of first place and you're into last.

That's how easy it is. OK, I'll be jumping up and down in the audience this year.

I don't normally do that, but I will be there. OK?

And I want you glued to me so I can help you with the timing.

I know you haven't had your operation yet in your ears

and I know the timing's very hard for you, but I know you can do it.

You just have to concentrate. Don't let your concentration go.

With only a week to go before the Leinsters,

Bridget attends the class,

hoping to get her first look at her new dress.

This is Pauline's last opportunity

to work with her students before they compete

for the chance to qualify for the World Championships.

Do you have the dress?

-I do, I've a big box for you today.

-Can I see it, please?

-Later.

-No, can I...

-I'll just start the little ones, then we'll get it, all right?

'Bridget, she's been in and out of class.'

I don't think she's doing a lot of practising. I'm trying to get

a bit of work out of her, so I'm going to wait till the end of class

before I reveal the costume.

Bridget, you've got one week left.

I don't think that's enough really, but we'll work it. Come on!

A week left, and I don't think I'm ready.

So I'm going to probably be practising all day and all night for the next week.

So it's going to be no sleep.

Come on, pull in the arms!

If you just did a bit of skipping, Bridget, that would improve.

Come on, lift, lift!

Come on, you've really improved,

you just need to do a bit of work on your fitness.

You've really improved, you've made a massive improvement.

Unfortunately, you're not doing any fitness or any skipping.

-Will you promise me you'll do some skipping this week?

-Okey-dokey.

-OK, good girl.

-Can I see the dress now?

-No.

-Please, please, please!

-No.

-Please, please!

-Oh, the dress!

-Oh, you almost forgot, serious?

-Does everybody want to see Bridget's dress? I nearly forgot!

-Can Bridget see first?

-What colour is it?

-ALL: Pink!

-To make the boys wink!

Ooh!

-Ooh! What do you think?

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-Do you like it?

-Yeah.

There's lots of bows. A shawl.

Now, Olivia, take her to the bathroom, and don't be long.

-It's pink and sparkly!

-It's just Bridget, like.

-Can we see it?

-But her dancing costume's

-always pink and sparkly.

-No!

-Just open the door, so we can see her!

-Are we ready, then?

-Yeah!

One, two, three!

Oh, isn't it beautiful?!

-It's really nice! Turn round, turn round.

-Gorgeous!

-So what do you think?

-I don't really think it all matches, so...

Yeah, it's maybe a little bit big, just for your waistline.

You'll have to play around with it. No better woman. Turn around

so we'll see your shawl now. Actually, the back's beautiful.

- Bridget, you look really nice. - Thanks.

-What do you think of the skirt?

-It's very plain.

I was going to get more tulle and just stick it completely out,

and more diamonds all over it.

-Put diamonds all along there.

-Lovely, good girl.

-That'll be beautiful.

-Diamond underwear! Bling!

I don't think we'll get diamond underwear. No need for that.

-All right, lovely.

-Help me get dressed.

'I need to fix the skirt,

'put more diamonds on it, and get a smaller middle piece.'

So hopefully I'll be able to get it done in a week.

Then dancing, I have to be on my skipping rope and do a bit more.

Oh, I'm dreading next Sunday, God!

I'm so nervous, I don't even want to think about it. I'm trying to just

put it to the back of my mind, then I don't think about it until the day.

Then I can hyperventilate and go to hospital. Then I won't have to do it!

The Leinsters finally arrive

and hundreds of competitors have come,

hoping to earn their place in the World Championships.

Bridget is late.

It's ten to nine and I'm dancing at nine.

-I wish I'd got up earlier.

-Did you go over your steps

-yesterday, Bridget?

-No!

-Bridget! Come on now,

you should have been practising for well an hour yesterday.

'I haven't danced in my costume yet. I've barely tried it on.'

Beautiful. You did a great job on it.

Completely different. OK, we'd better go.

-Keep your eyes up, OK?

-Yeah.

-And do your best.

All you can do is your best, all right? You look lovely.

Keep your eyes up now, and don't be looking at the floor.

MUSIC BEGINS

'I'm not happy with the way I danced at all. Me and the girl, we bumped.

'I was looking down and I didn't see her, and we just bumped.'

She mustn't have seen me either.

Bridget has one dance left to try and improve her overall position.

Bridget's not going to be walking away with any trophies today.

She's definitely in last position.

For stopping only, not for her dancing,

because she's really, really improved.

So I'm sorry she made that mistake.

'I went wrong in every dance I did,

'so I'm not really happy with it at all. But ultimately,'

I've just come away with a new dress

and a bit more confidence, I think.

I don't know, I'll figure it out after I've had some sleep.

While there may be no silverware for Bridget, Jim's family have all come

hoping to see him dance his way to a place in the World Championships.

But Jim has been ill.

He's been coughing for the last week in the night

because of his breathing. But hopefully now today,

he'll have the energy to dance.

I think Jim was born to dance. My grandad used to dance,

my granny used to dance. He must have got it from them.

He has the knack, anyhow. He's slim and he's small, and he's everything.

Pull in that arm. You want this, don't you? OK?

-You need to pull in that arm.

-'Years ago, like,'

there was tents and wagons, and all like that. No trailers, no mobiles.

Just everyone sitting around a fire

and they'd have their tea outside and a few drinks outside,

and then they'd have an old dance outside.

OK, best of luck. Watch me. Keep your eyes on me. Good luck.

OK, no talking now. Keep your concentration.

CHEERING

Pauline and Jim's family wait nervously for his results.

In order to win his spot in the World Championships,

he must place in the top five today.

Now, ready now with the Boys' 11-12 result.

And our winner of the 11-12 Boys' Championship is Adam Norris.

In second, we have Nathan Kiernan.

In third, we have Jim O'Brien.

CHEERING

Winning third place means that Jim has now qualified

for the 2014 London World Championships.

Jim has advanced so much over the year

and he knows everything about the dance,

and he eats, drinks and sleeps it.

He's so intelligent.

You know, I do think Jim can be a world-class dancer.

Bridget will have no silverware going home from the Leinsters

this year, but she'll have a new outfit, a new look, and hopefully,

she'll be encouraged by the other girls

that are here in her group from our school

and she'll hopefully keep it up and improve for next year.