The Irish Independent said screenshots of text conversations that showed 12 teachers requesting or offering to fix competitions were passed to the governing body in July. There are qualifying competitions in the US, UK and Australia. The CLRG organises Ireland’s regional and national championships as well as the World Irish Dancing Championships, which in April drew 3,500 dancers to Belfast. “This process has already started and the principles of natural justice apply.” The Guardian contacted the CLRG for additional comment on Thursday.įrom modest roots in parish halls, Irish dancing has become a highly competitive, global phenomenon that draws the Irish diaspora and people with no Irish heritage. “The process will no doubt be difficult and arduous, but this grossly unethical behaviour must be eliminated from our competitions, dance schools and governing organisations.”Īny member found to have engaged in gross misconduct will be subject to due and full process under the organisation’s disciplinary procedures, it said. “Such unethical behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated by this organisation.”īecause of the potential extent of the allegations and to ensure fairness and transparency it had hired a former appeal court judge to investigate, who will have full access to CLRG records, it said. The Dublin-based CLRG said in a statement that in July it had received allegations, with supporting documentation, of grievous breaches of its code of conduct. “Because once you do, you’re indebted to them for life. A US-based teacher said she was afraid to ask one of the allegedly crooked judges for a favour. Several parents and teachers, speaking anonymously, told the paper the tight-knit industry was like the mafia, with one former Riverdance star citing the HBO show The Sopranos. It quoted insiders who spoke of unusual scoring patterns at competitions and cosy relationships between teachers and judges. The Irish Independent said in one case a teacher and a competition judge appeared to be exchanging sexual favours for higher scores. Dance teachers adjudicate dance competitions, from small, local affairs to international events. It is alleged that at least 12 teachers in Ireland and other countries conspired to ensure certain dancers scored highly in international tournaments, known as feiseanna.
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