No woman wants to dance with a sweaty man
RTÉ’s press office tell us that Stetsons and Stilettos looks at the jiving scene this week, and Westmeath is in there somewhere.
Episode two of Stetsons and Stilettos, today Sunday, on RTÉ One at 7.30pm.
Preview clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sds-HFqiqlM
Jiving has now become so popular, it is almost a competitive sport on the dance floors of Ireland, RTÉ have found.
In today’s episode of Stetsons and Stilettos, they follow the fates of some competitive young dancers who have their sights set on the top prizes at the jiving competition at The Monaghan Town Country Music Festival.
In the last five years country music has captured the imagination of a new generation.
The youngsters in rural Ireland have replaced the night clubs for country music dances.
Stars like Derek Ryan, Mike Denver and Johnny Brady are packing out venues across the country much to the delight of thousands of 20-somethings.
With the craze for the music, comes a resurgence in the dancing that goes with it. And there is one simple truth – ‘if you ain’t got the moves and the look, you ain’t gonna get the girls.’
So from Larne to Longford, jive classes are jam packed, country style.
Dance teachers like Niall Doorhy can pack 70 eager learners into his class in Westmeath on a Tuesday night.
This is a scene repeated across Ireland as country music fans learn their moves in the hope of graduating to the dance floor.
The top jivers are an elite group who move in packs around the country to dance with each other, learn new moves and groove to the best dance bands.
We meet best friends Donal McGuigan from Monaghan and Anthony Murchan from Armath, who are rivals when it comes to dancing.
They plan to go head to head at the competition with their established partners Aoife and Stacey.
Such is their passion for perfection they will travel hours to the best locations to practise their steps.
We also catch up with Derry man Kevin O’Kane whose love for bailing hay comes second only to his love for jiving.
He has never had a dance partner and often practices with his mate, Stephen!
Now he has decided to comb the best dance floors in search of the perfect partner for the Monaghan jiving competition and he knows exactly what he’s lookin’ for.
“She needs to be a good, lively, bouncy dancer, a good fit, cuttie who knows all the moves and loves dancing as much as me.”