While her daughter loved the Irish dance class, Jessica was disturbed that she left her first day wondering whether she’d be able to continue dancing with her straight hair – so different from the curly wigs the dancers sport for competitions.
“My four-year-old had her first Irish dance class recently and the teacher (very nice) was telling the new students (four to six year-olds) about Irish dance and dance costumes. She said, "Did you notice something else about Irish dancers? They all have curly hair." That went over fine in class but later my daughter (straight haired) asked me, "Why can't girls with straight hair dance Irish?", Jessica told IrishCentral.
“Her question shows that this standard of curly hair is an unusual and potentially hurtful beauty standard. Having a categorical beauty standard like curly versus straight hair sends kids the message that some physical features are good and others are bad.”
Jessica noted that their newness to the Irish dance world probably gives her “some distance from the nostalgia and investment that more experienced dance families might feel about the current culture.”
Still, she said that when she talked to a few other parents who are outside the dance world and some who are also new to it, “all were surprised/disappointed to discover that wig wearing and elaborate beauty routines are part of the Irish folk dance culture.”
