Challenges and opportunities in professional Irish dancing

Professional Irish dancing (ID) on a large scale is a relatively recent development borne of productions such "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance" which burst on the international dance scene in the mid-1990s. These productions, and many others like them, allowed young Irish dancers to pursue opportunities in a professional capacity and to perform for longer than ever before, while bringing the genre to the global audience. Research into the career experience of the professional Irish dancer (PID) has identified that most dancers have positive career experiences with benefits including international travel, physical fitness and health, personal development, enduring friendships and relationships, and the ability to earn a living by sharing their passion with an adoring audience. However, the career of a PID may also be negatively impacted by physical injury, psychological issues such as loneliness, homesickness and bullying, difficulties of daily life in unfamiliar tour locations, job insecurity and lack of career longevity. Aspiring PIDs, their teachers and families must be mindful of the potential challenges to be faced in the professional environment, where technical ability is just one part of the performance package required to succeed. For older dancers, using opportunities presented during their careers, and planning ahead may help to ease the potential trauma of transitioning out of a career in dance upon retirement. Strategies are suggested for companies to support dancers at all stages to ensure a positive and healthy working environment for all parties.