A new three-part docuseries on Sky One is offering a fascinating glimpse into the high-stakes world of competitive Irish dance, though it leaves out one colossal figure. 'Battle of the Irish Dancers' follows several young, dedicated dancers as they prepare for the prestigious World Irish Dancing Championships, but curiously sidesteps the legacy of Michael Flatley, the man who revolutionised the art form.
The Riverdance Revolution
The series frequently contrasts the modern era with the days before Riverdance exploded onto the global stage in 1994. Veteran dance impresario Carole Scanlon nostalgically reflects on a time of "poorly lit community centres" and simpler costumes. The impact of Flatley's creation, however, is undeniable. Tutor and former Riverdancer Kelly Hendry states that the show "blew everything into a whole different ballgame," shattering a century of tradition with its theatricality and speed.
The Reign of the Wigs
One of the most visible modern evolutions is the advent of the elaborate wigs. Gone are the home perms of the past. Kelly Hendry directly addresses the change, noting, "It's the wigs. They've taken over." Today's dancers sport vertiginous towers of synthetic curls, heavily adorned with sparkly accessories and diamante details. These are presented as a practical solution, allowing dancers like 14-year-old best friends Maria and Saoirse to perform their complex routines without hair-related distractions. The result is a striking visual that makes today's Irish dancers look, as the series suggests, more '80s than they did in the actual 1980s.
Focus on the Dancers
Rather than delving into a broader history or global statistics, the docuseries focuses intimately on its subjects. We follow the boggling footwork of Maria and Saoirse from the Kelly Hendry School of Irish Dancing in Newcastle, which has earned a shelf of trophies. In Birmingham, 17-year-old Lauren navigates the pressures of competition under the stern but ultimately supportive eye of coach Carole. In Dublin, we meet 26-year-old Owen, a multi-award-winning dancer preparing for his third and final world championship. The sheer skill on display is described as "majestic, preposterous lower-body hysteria" – a yodelling for the feet that is both gasp-inducing and magnificent.
Despite the compelling subject matter, the series has been criticised for showing only fleeting glimpses of the full dance routines, often opting for unnecessary speed-ups, slow-motion, or cuts away from the action. Furthermore, the absence of any substantive mention of Michael Flatley or the wider historical context of Irish dance feels like a significant omission for a documentary about an art form he so fundamentally transformed.
