‘Jig’ steps into the world of competitive Irish dancing

Documentaries depicting competitions among children and teenagers have become quite popular in recent years. The drama of showcasing a talent and then hearing the judges read out numbers makes for great cinematic intensity. Perhaps the best example of this documentary sub-genre is the exquisite Spellbound, which tracked students from across the United States as they vied for the top prize in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Now comes Jig, an equally impressive look into the ultra-competitive world of Irish dancing. Sue Bourne’s stellar film follows several dancers from Northern Ireland, England, Ireland, Russia, Holland and the United States, all the while keeping the camera on those frenetic tapping feet. The movie is able to achieve something special: Everyone knows there is much practice and passion in the competitive sport, but Jig reminds us that Irish dancing is also filled to the brim with a lot of heart.

Bourne takes the smart approach of letting each story unfold along its natural inclinations. We are not inundated with statistics and stories of triumph from years past. The director is interested in her subjects, both their growth and their ultimate outcome at the 2010 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

The practice regimen that each dancer endures is beyond the scope of impressive. These performers, some of them just boys and girls, while others are close to 21 years old, are drilled from a young age on exactly where to place their feet and keep the rhythm. Their collective output is mesmerizing. Time and time again, the camera shows the dancers tapping on the unforgiving wooden floors of their practice studios.

And the dedication stretches beyond the grueling sessions with their respective dance instructors. The families involved need to sacrifice, both financially and otherwise, for their children to compete on the world’s stage.

The family of American dancer Joe Bitter actually moved from their successful lives in Silicon Valley, Calif., and set up shop in Birmingham, England, in order to be closer to the prestigious Carey Academy, run by former World Champion John Carey.

Another dancer, Sandun Verschoor of Rotterdam, Holland, uses Irish dancing to balance his life as an adopted child from Sri Lanka. Brogan McCay is one of the liveliest of the film’s subjects. Hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland, the young 10-year-old shows a precise skill coupled with a humorous personality. Her grandmother’s death right before the World Championship’s qualifying round serves as inspiration to keep on tapping those feet.

Julia O’Rourke comes from Long Island, N.Y., and her dedicated tutelage at the Petri dance school shows in every rhythmic step she takes. A group of Irish dancers from Moscow display how the art form has traveled across cultural lines, while young John Whitehurst shows signs of being a real-life Billy Elliot. Although he was initially jeered for choosing dancing over football, family and friends soon realized that Whitehurst had an uncommon talent.

Jig follows each of their stories from practice sessions in their hometowns to life with their families to their final performances in Glasgow. The final 45 minutes of the film are as intense as any summer blockbuster. Watching these young ladies in their elaborate dresses and curly wigs and these young men with thoughts of complex steps in their mind is like watching one’s own child take a jump into a competitive abyss. The audience feels so much for them that hearing the results at the end of the movie almost makes you want to look away.

Bourne is able to harness the energy of Irish dancing into an invigorating cinematic experience, and as she does so, the director never disparages the sport or mocks her subjects. The dancers and the families that support them are given their earned chance in the spotlight. In front of our eyes, they become polished stars, offering their talents and hard work to a judging public.

Jig lets you live every moment of the World Championships, offering you a chance watch the great triumphs and crushing defeats. In short, the movie depicts life, condensed to a few pivotal steps of the feet.

• Jig

• 2011

• Directed by Sue Bourne

• Featuring Brogan McCay, Julia O’Rourke, Joe Bitter, John Whitehurst, Claire Greaney, Simona Mauriello, Suzanne Coyle, Sandun Verschoor and Ana Kondratyeva

• Running time: 93 minutes

• Unrated

• Bubble score: 4 out of 4

• Click here for more information on Jig.

• Click here to purchase Jig on DVD.