Good gig for dancers on TG4

A NUMBER of Clare dancing schools will be represented on TG4’s An Jig Gig in the coming weeks.
The first group from Clare to be featured on the Irish language television programme will be Na Boree Girls setdancers from Lissycasey. Their teacher is John Fennell.
Mr Fennell said that while the programmes were recorded back in June, excitement among the dancers and their families and friends is building now as the first show, featuring some of his dance school’s students, will be on TG4 on September 26.
“We’re all really looking forward to it now. It will be novel for the dancers to see themselves on television. A number of our dancers have won competitions and award in recent years and we took part in An Jig Gig last year too but it’s always nice to be involved in something fun and to see what other dancers are doing. We have only entered set dancers in An Jig Gig. I don’t feel the standard is as high as last year and that could be because the auditions were held during the time that the Junior and Leaving Certificates were on. However, we are hoping to do well this year. Either way, it’s a great way for publicity and we are enjoying the whole experience,” John said.
He added that the judges are very critical but that they’ve taken all the feedback, both good and bad, on board. He and his dancers have also found the whole experience of seeing behind the scenes of a television programme really interesting.
Na Boree Girls, all aged between 15 and 17 years, will be on An Jig Gig on Sunday, November 28.
The next Clare Group will be Damhsóirí Seite Naomh Bernadette, aged 10 to 12, from Lisseycasey, who will appear on the show on October 3.
Solo dancer, Stephen McGuinness aged 10, from Ennis will feature on October 10.
On November 7, another of John Fennell’s groups, Sparky Gang from Kilrush, aged 11 to 13, will feature on the show. Two weeks later, on November 21, Damhsóirí Seite Lios Uí Chathasaigh, aged 11 to 13, will dance on the show, while eight-year-old Ciara O’Brien from Shannon will feature on November 28.
The third of John’s dancing groups, West Clare Ramblers from Ennis, aged 17 and 18 will also dance on the show on Sunday, November 28.
Last year, on the first series of An Jig Gig, in a nail-biting final in December, Irish Beats finally emerged victorious to claim the title triumphing over world champion, Clodagh Roper, Celtic Roots and The Mark Donnellan Memorial Team.
Hosted by Róisín Ní Thomáin, the show will again see hundreds of acts, from all different styles of Irish dance and all age groups, take to the stage. This is the only competition of its kind, where Irish dancers of any organisation, age, style, or standard can compete head to head. Whether it is a solo step dancer or 16 set dancers, young or old, anyone who can Irish dance is eligible.  
The three judges for the show are Breandán de Gallaí, former lead dancer with Riverdance, Dearbhla Lennon, also a former lead dancer of Riverdance and Labhrás Sonai Choilm Learraí, a champion sean-nós dancer, and a fanatical supporter of the older styles of Irish dance.