I thought it worth a look, just to see how the dance goes to a jig rhythm (as I'd only seen it danced to reels). Instead of a quasi instructional performance, I was surprised to see the video showed the dancer stuff it up, drop his broom and end the dance with the broom stuck between his legs. The audience had a laugh and it was all seemingly just a bit of fun.
My first reaction was it seems odd (quaint?) that a national cultural organisation taking it's role rather seriously would present this video to the world - but on the other hand perhaps its also a good sign that they are comfortable enough with the living traditions that they don't need to polish things up for public consumption. God knows there's enough fake stuff on the web and in the mass media these days!
BTW: in my corner of the world the brush dance gets an airing at nearly every ceili I've been to, so is it really "rare" now in Ireland?
Ok,
I see your point of view however you aint seen a brush dance until you've seen young Joe Neachtain (Joe Stones) give it a whirl. The basic elements demand a melodeon player, preferably Johnny Connolly, a dark dingy (but clean) pub (Tigh Hughe's, An Spideal), a crowd of well oiled punters and a roaring fire. Then you've got a brush dance.
As someone who is
a) interested in dance and music more as a social glue more than as some kind of technical feat or "reliving of the good old days when everything was better"
b) ignorant with regard to the irish dance tradition
c) appreciative of the technique, skill and work behind a given step
I'd say that I definitely want to see this from comhaltas. I'm not interested in any kind of over technical prissy "fecking this up would be tantamount to treason" dancing. The dance itself... well there were a few mistakes, but so what? However, having seen other dances with brushes, I'm not particularly impressed with this err "performance".
This is a boring and stale debate on this site, but I demand something more from a performance than a showcasing of something that shouldn't actually *be* a performance. Would you have a session on a stage?
about 25 years ago, I saw the broom danced in East Anglia,to be precise in a pub called the Railway at Finningham Suffolk,England.
it was danced a bit slower ,to start with, and with more intricate stepping over the broom.
I don't know anything about other "issues" people may have with CCE but I enjoyed this video and a good few of their others. I think there's a nice "feel" to them, often very good playing, but not overly polished or commercial.
The most boring brush dance I have ever seen. Don't mind him dropping the thing itself but the steps! and the straight back and hands by the side stance of competition dance - a complete disaster!
And do way is is rare anymore to see this at festivals, set dance weekends. In fact its more unusual not to see someone do a brush dance. Very popular especially among the young generation. Get with it Comhaltas!
Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
There's a new video of the brush dance on the Comhaltas website at http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_253_2_brush_dance_performed_by_john_collins/
I thought it worth a look, just to see how the dance goes to a jig rhythm (as I'd only seen it danced to reels). Instead of a quasi instructional performance, I was surprised to see the video showed the dancer stuff it up, drop his broom and end the dance with the broom stuck between his legs. The audience had a laugh and it was all seemingly just a bit of fun.
My first reaction was it seems odd (quaint?) that a national cultural organisation taking it's role rather seriously would present this video to the world - but on the other hand perhaps its also a good sign that they are comfortable enough with the living traditions that they don't need to polish things up for public consumption. God knows there's enough fake stuff on the web and in the mass media these days!
BTW: in my corner of the world the brush dance gets an airing at nearly every ceili I've been to, so is it really "rare" now in Ireland?
Anyway, what's your reaction to the video?
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by dogbox
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
Ok,
I see your point of view however you aint seen a brush dance until you've seen young Joe Neachtain (Joe Stones) give it a whirl. The basic elements demand a melodeon player, preferably Johnny Connolly, a dark dingy (but clean) pub (Tigh Hughe's, An Spideal), a crowd of well oiled punters and a roaring fire. Then you've got a brush dance.
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Patkiwi
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
As someone who is
a) interested in dance and music more as a social glue more than as some kind of technical feat or "reliving of the good old days when everything was better"
b) ignorant with regard to the irish dance tradition
c) appreciative of the technique, skill and work behind a given step
I'd say that I definitely want to see this from comhaltas. I'm not interested in any kind of over technical prissy "fecking this up would be tantamount to treason" dancing. The dance itself... well there were a few mistakes, but so what? However, having seen other dances with brushes, I'm not particularly impressed with this err "performance".
This is a boring and stale debate on this site, but I demand something more from a performance than a showcasing of something that shouldn't actually *be* a performance. Would you have a session on a stage?
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Tirno
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
I second Patkiwi's statement - although Stones isn't that young anymore!
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
about 25 years ago, I saw the broom danced in East Anglia,to be precise in a pub called the Railway at Finningham Suffolk,England.
it was danced a bit slower ,to start with, and with more intricate stepping over the broom.
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by dickens metrognome
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
Ashley Hutchings has also done a broom dance the last couple of times I've seen him with various incarnations of the Albion Band.
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by DavyR
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
I don't know anything about other "issues" people may have with CCE but I enjoyed this video and a good few of their others. I think there's a nice "feel" to them, often very good playing, but not overly polished or commercial.
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by TomB-R
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
The most boring brush dance I have ever seen. Don't mind him dropping the thing itself but the steps! and the straight back and hands by the side stance of competition dance - a complete disaster!
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by bullwall
Re: Brush Dance video - new CCE approved version?
And do way is is rare anymore to see this at festivals, set dance weekends. In fact its more unusual not to see someone do a brush dance. Very popular especially among the young generation. Get with it Comhaltas!
# Posted on May 1st 2008 by bullwall