Balancing Rivalry, Teamwork, and Community as Irish Dancing Siblings

Balancing Rivalry, Teamwork, and Community as Irish Dancing Siblings

In the world of Irish Dancing, it isn’t unusual to have siblings all competing in the same Dance school. At Move With Meg, we have worked with lots of siblings; from twins Sophie and Rebecca (who you can listen to on our podcast here) to the Walker Sisters who have 6 siblings each and 4 of those siblings dancing. We love hearing about their stories - from learning how they support each other, to seeing how they help each other practice at home and all the fun family Irish Dancing road trips they’ve been on. But, we know that having a sibling in Irish Dancing can also be hard to navigate - here’s how to balance rivalry, teamwork, and community as Irish Dancing Siblings. 

Recognise Your Individual Strengths
While it’s natural for siblings to be compared to each other, every Dancer brings their own unique skills to the stage. Focus on recognising and celebrating what you, as an individual excels at, whether it’s toe height, stage presence, or stamina. By acknowledging these strengths, you can learn to appreciate and respect your own and each other’s abilities and also use them to support each other to improve.

Create Boundaries Around Dance Conversations
It’s easy for Irish Dancing to become the centre of every family conversation, but that can lead to burnout or frustration. Set aside time to talk about Dance and other times to focus on non-dance topics. This creates a healthier family dynamic and helps prevent Irish Dance from becoming a source of conflict at home. 

Encourage Teamwork
Irish Dancing often involves working and performing as an individual, but teamwork can be just as rewarding. We would encourage siblings to help each other with practice sessions, offer constructive feedback, or work on similar weaknesses together. This helps to create a sense of collaboration and shared achievement - remember constructive criticism comes from a place of love and respect for and from your sibling. 

Find Opportunities to Build Community
Dance schools and competitions are great places to build lifelong friendships. Encourage siblings to engage with other dancers and become part of a supportive community. This helps them see themselves as part of something bigger than just their sibling dynamic. You and your sibling may have completely different Feis Friends, increasing your supportive community in the Irish Dancing world. 

Celebrate Successes Together
Whether it’s a small personal achievement or a major win, take time to celebrate your successes and those of your siblings too. This will help you to have a positive attitude towards Irish Dance and ensure you are both feeling valued and motivated.

By working together and remembering your unique abilities and strengths, Irish Dancing with your siblings can strengthen your bond, help you all learn valuable life skills, and create lasting memories. At Move With Meg, we’re passionate about fostering a positive environment for ALL Dancers, helping them thrive as individuals and as part of a supportive community.

You can join our Online Supportive Community by:

Downloading our FREE MWM App

Joining our Gold Club for £35 per month

Parents, you can join our FREE Facebook Group