As an appreciative observer, Irish dance is tough enough without imposing artificial and meaningless handicaps.
C
Coralie Hunt
6 years ago
Forcing people to wear tights when they dance because of their age is discriminatory and just wrong. Let's fix this!
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
Adults need infinity less guidance in what is appropriate apparel. The TCRG will still have oversight. The dance is what is important, and not the legs covering.
R
Rachel Luni
6 years ago
It's silly that women can't wear socks!
F
Frank Boston
6 years ago
I agree with this petition. The differentiation is illogical and unfair.
H
Heather Hipkiss
6 years ago
Featured
As a competitive adult dancer, I can confirm that I have been overheated and felt unstable as my feet slid in my shoes while performing at feis in all levels up to and including Open. I’ve been hoping this rule would be rescinded in that basis alone. I feel that tights are more dangerous than understood by some.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
A chairde,
I am in support of this petition for an array of reasons. Here is a selection of some which I find particularly noteworthy:
1. An older dancer could appear much younger than she is - young enough for a tan and poodle socks. Wearing black tights because of an arbitrary rule such as this would give her age away.
2. A dancer broadcasting her age with black tights could potentially suffer from judges who would rather watch and award a younger dancer. Even though this is oftentimes a subconscious preference, it still exists and it still ought to be considered.
3. A dancer generally has the discretion to select a look that works best for her. Her TCRG can advise her if she's not sure what to wear. Mandating black tights robs her and her TCRG of this discretion and risks forcing her into a look that does not suit her.
4. Black tights really DO make it hard to see muscle tone, points, crossing, arching, turn-out, cute ankle twists, etc. - and in fact, a dancer's legs and feet at all. This includes distinguishing one foot from the other and one leg from the other. In addition to obscuring form, black tights also render a dancer's "style" invisible.
5. With a dress that's mostly black, black tights drag down my look, making me appear too dark and heavy for the lightness and airiness of my actual dancing. I might as well be part of the scenery on a black stage with a black background.
6. I already feel self-conscious as an older dancer, and I cannot imagine that I am the only one. I don't have gray hair or anything else blatantly aged about my appearance, so I don't know that my age is very recognizable. However, tanning and wearing poodle socks would more strongly visually associate me with dancers of superb skill and would therefore give a critical boost to my confidence.
7. As a dancer in her 30s who has been in Preliminary Championship for more than five years, I can attest to the utter devastation felt when skill is repeatedly overlooked
L
Laura Bach
6 years ago
Featured
Every dancer, regardless of age, should work with their TCRG to create the best "look" for themselves. Bun wig or long wig, how dark to tan the legs, approval of solo dress design...socks vs tights should be no different.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
Welcome to the 21st century
L
Lyla Medeiros
6 years ago
I’d like tights to be a choice for adults. It’s hard to dance in tights when you train in socks because your shoes fit differently. Tights are hot and uncomfortable.
S
Stahli
6 years ago
If adult women have to wear tights all should have to. The open dancers as well. All or nobody.
K
Katherine McCarty
6 years ago
Dancing in tights is just awful!
J
Jane Kelly
6 years ago
It’s way past time to make this change.
K
Kaylee
6 years ago
I really don't see the sense in this rule and never have! I like wearing tights, but the fact that this is a rule based purely on looks, aesthetic, and dare I say, the female body and how it ages, is ridiculous. The CLRG needs to start progressing with the rest of the athletic world and make some changes already!
K
Kathleen clinton
6 years ago
why cant we choose
A
Ali Cox
6 years ago
This is blatant discrimination based on age and level. You are violating laws of protected categories. Please remove the black tights rules based on age.
N
Nadine Ives
6 years ago
Not sure if I signed this ages ago. Dancers should be able to choose for solo events. Age discrimination has no place in Irish Dance - or anywhere.
P
Paige Wilson
6 years ago
I like tights for myself, but that should be a choice, not a mandate.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
Why are prelim and open dancers over 18 not forced to wear the tights but “adult” level is?
As an appreciative observer, Irish dance is tough enough without imposing artificial and meaningless handicaps.
Forcing people to wear tights when they dance because of their age is discriminatory and just wrong. Let's fix this!
Adults need infinity less guidance in what is appropriate apparel. The TCRG will still have oversight. The dance is what is important, and not the legs covering.
It's silly that women can't wear socks!
I agree with this petition. The differentiation is illogical and unfair.
As a competitive adult dancer, I can confirm that I have been overheated and felt unstable as my feet slid in my shoes while performing at feis in all levels up to and including Open. I’ve been hoping this rule would be rescinded in that basis alone. I feel that tights are more dangerous than understood by some.
A chairde, I am in support of this petition for an array of reasons. Here is a selection of some which I find particularly noteworthy: 1. An older dancer could appear much younger than she is - young enough for a tan and poodle socks. Wearing black tights because of an arbitrary rule such as this would give her age away. 2. A dancer broadcasting her age with black tights could potentially suffer from judges who would rather watch and award a younger dancer. Even though this is oftentimes a subconscious preference, it still exists and it still ought to be considered. 3. A dancer generally has the discretion to select a look that works best for her. Her TCRG can advise her if she's not sure what to wear. Mandating black tights robs her and her TCRG of this discretion and risks forcing her into a look that does not suit her. 4. Black tights really DO make it hard to see muscle tone, points, crossing, arching, turn-out, cute ankle twists, etc. - and in fact, a dancer's legs and feet at all. This includes distinguishing one foot from the other and one leg from the other. In addition to obscuring form, black tights also render a dancer's "style" invisible. 5. With a dress that's mostly black, black tights drag down my look, making me appear too dark and heavy for the lightness and airiness of my actual dancing. I might as well be part of the scenery on a black stage with a black background. 6. I already feel self-conscious as an older dancer, and I cannot imagine that I am the only one. I don't have gray hair or anything else blatantly aged about my appearance, so I don't know that my age is very recognizable. However, tanning and wearing poodle socks would more strongly visually associate me with dancers of superb skill and would therefore give a critical boost to my confidence. 7. As a dancer in her 30s who has been in Preliminary Championship for more than five years, I can attest to the utter devastation felt when skill is repeatedly overlooked
Every dancer, regardless of age, should work with their TCRG to create the best "look" for themselves. Bun wig or long wig, how dark to tan the legs, approval of solo dress design...socks vs tights should be no different.
Welcome to the 21st century
I’d like tights to be a choice for adults. It’s hard to dance in tights when you train in socks because your shoes fit differently. Tights are hot and uncomfortable.
If adult women have to wear tights all should have to. The open dancers as well. All or nobody.
Dancing in tights is just awful!
It’s way past time to make this change.
I really don't see the sense in this rule and never have! I like wearing tights, but the fact that this is a rule based purely on looks, aesthetic, and dare I say, the female body and how it ages, is ridiculous. The CLRG needs to start progressing with the rest of the athletic world and make some changes already!
why cant we choose
This is blatant discrimination based on age and level. You are violating laws of protected categories. Please remove the black tights rules based on age.
Not sure if I signed this ages ago. Dancers should be able to choose for solo events. Age discrimination has no place in Irish Dance - or anywhere.
I like tights for myself, but that should be a choice, not a mandate.
Why are prelim and open dancers over 18 not forced to wear the tights but “adult” level is?
I 2ND THIS PETITION