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America’s erotic clubs saved by Irish dancing
On the face of it there’s little connection between Irish dancing and
some of the raunchier routines practiced at erotic dance clubs across the
world.
But if you thought the two were worlds apart, then think again.
For the age-old practice of Irish step-dancing has helped come to the
rescue of some rather risqué clubs in America.
The saga follows a legal battle in the American state of North Carolina
over the goings on in lap-dancing and other erotic dance clubs.
The controversy began when a number of clubs challenged a state law that
bans professional dancers from touching their bodies in a suggestive fashion
— effectively ruling out many of the dance routines and the close and personal
approach of the performers.
The move would have spelled disaster for the clubs — who enlisted star
witness Dr Judith Hanna to argue their case.
And the respected anthropologist and dance expert came to the rescue
when she claimed criminalising suggestive moves would mean banishing everything
from ballet to belly-dancing to even Irish dancing.
Dr Hanna’s argued the movements in Irish dancing, with a rigid upper
body and a leg pounding on the ground, could be interpreted as suggestive.
And amazingly her argument convinced the judge who lifted the ban.
Dr Hanna’s argument was backed by Helen Brennan — the author of The Story
of Irish Dance.
She said: “After all, it is said that dance is the vertical horizontal
desire.”
But dance teacher Dr Catherine Foley from the Irish World Music Centre
at the University of Limerick was less convinced — saying it a step too
far to put Irish dancing on a par with lap-dancing.
She said: “I think we’ve always had sexy dancers — even before Riverdance.
But it’s quite unconscious. It’s not the intention of the dancer to make
them sexy.
“People can take what they want from anything. People read sexiness into
all sorts of things.”
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