I decided if I was to attempt Irish dancing, it would have to be Michael Flatley-style.

Fast, furious and energetic is what I was seeking for my dabble in the Emerald Isle’s national dance.

I knew I hadn’t a hope of copying the high-speed kicks, jumps and intricate ankle-crossing performed by the Lord Of The Dance, but I was eager to try, and Jodie Gonzalez, one of only a few qualified Irish dance teachers in West Yorkshire, was willing to put me through my paces.

Jodie started Irish dancing 22 years ago, after her Irish grandparents introduced her to it. She was five when she watched the dancers at her local Irish Club. She had her first lesson the following night. “And I’ve danced every day since!” she smiles.

By the age of ten, she was competing in world championships, winning hundreds of trophies and medals. She gave up competing when she was 20 to focus on university studies, but she continued dancing, and at 23 began performing at weddings and events on the back of the popularity of Irish dance generated by Michael Flatley’s global dance phenomenon Riverdance and Lord Of The Dance.

Last year, Jodie qualified to become a teacher after taking her Irish dance examinations, and is now running her own school, the Jodie Kennedy School of Irish Dance.

“I remember when I told my grandfather I was going to start a school, he was worried there wasn’t going to be a market for it,” she says.

Jodie launched her first session at a church hall in Halifax. “And 30 children turned up!” she says.

As well as the sessions she runs at St Patrick’s Church, Elland, and Whiteley’s Academy of Performing Arts in Halifax, she also runs Saturday morning session at Bradford Irish Club, where I join her and her young proteges.

Dressed in beautiful traditional Irish dancing costumes, the young girls make their way on to the dance floor to greet the new novice.

I watch them as they practise their steps and worry that they may giggle at my attempts to replicate their moves, but they don’t. They are all wonderful, and stepping into the colourful traditional panelled dress with embellished cape, makes me feel the part.

Traditionally, girls wore their hair in ringlets, but for ease and convenience, Jodie says the modern way is to tie the hair back and wear a curly piece on top. Unfortunately, there isn’t one available for me to borrow!

Dressed up and ready to go, I take my place on the dance floor, surrounded by my fellow scholars, who are all at least 20 years my junior.

Firstly, Jodie explains we always start on our right foot, all the while holding our hands down by our sides, as per tradition. Not bad so far. The next step is the hop, and this is where it becomes tricky. My timing, as always when I dabble in anything dance-related, goes to pot.

We progress to a skip and jump. These are all the steps Jodie teaches in the Beginners Reel. I try to replicate the moves being performed by Jodie and her young proteges, but I’m focusing too much on my feet… again. I once did the same while ballroom dancing, only this time I’m watching Jodie’s feet, following what she does.

The kicks look simple, but while my young pals perform theirs so daintily and perfectly, I was pre-occupied with trying not to show more than I wished if I kicked any higher!

“It is harder than people realise,” says Jodie. Suddenly I don’t feel quite so useless. “Technically, it is a very difficult dance. The things we are doing are beginners steps, but the steps you do once you start getting to a higher level are foot positioning and leg positioning.

“The steps they do now weren’t invented when I started dancing. It has progressed massively over the last few years,” explains Jodie.

There are different dances too. Irish Step, which I am attempting to perform, is different from Irish Set. Set dance is a traditional form of folk dancing in Ireland which Jodie explains is more social.

Step dancing is known as solo dancing. “They are far more intricate steps and there is a lot more freedom in the choreography,” Jodie says.

The more proficient you are with the steps, the faster the footwork. According to Jodie, it is fantastic exercise.

“I do a lot of work on strength and leg muscles, because that is how they will jump high and it is quite athletic,” says Jodie.

Some of her class are working towards championships. For some, Irish dancing is following a family tradition but, most importantly, it’s fun.

“I am a huge advocate of getting children active, and as long as they are having fun, that’s the most important thing,” says Jodie, who teaches adults too.

  • For more information, contact the Jodie Kennedy School of Irish Dance on 07736 449228 or call the Bradford Irish Club, Rebecca Street, Bradford, on (01274) 732000.