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According to legend, when Ireland was under complete British control, Irish culture was discouraged by the English in charge. Dancing, which was incredibly important to the Irish, was allegedly outlawed by conquering Normans in the 12th century. According to a popular legend, the natives refused to give up their dance, and adapted their dances by keeping their arms still so that whenever the English would look in the Irish people's windows, all they would see was a person with their hands to their sides, but their feet and legs were moving, under the protection of the the windows to conceal their "outlawed dancing." However, this is nothing more than an urban legend and the real history of Irish dancing is much more complicated.
Irish dances evolved for many different reasons, one of them being the outside influence of British dances, but not because it was declared illegal. One conquering Brit, Sir Henry Sydney wrote to Queen Elizabeth I in1569 of the Irish jigs he witnessed young girls performing for him upon his arrival: "They are very beautiful, magnificently dressed and first-class dancers."
One reason their arms are still in jigs and other similar dances is because the focus was meant to be given to the feet. Often, dancing competitions (which are still common in Ireland today,) would state in the rules that one cannot move their upper body, because the complex footwork is what is being judged and the judges should not "be unfairly influenced by elaborate hand and arm movement."
In truth, the history of Irish dancing is among an evolution of a complex nation which was often influenced by outsiders, the church, invaders and yet , to this day, maintains some of the most unique dancing culture in the world. So, no... hiding from the British is not exactly why they keep their arms still.
Sources:
Irish Dancing Commission - Origins and Evolutions By Dr. John Cullinane
Website at the link below
Having an Irish Dance-a-holic Grandma
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How did Irish dancing start?
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