There’s something beautiful about the way dance connects generations. In a recent piece from the Irish Examiner, Katelyn Cummins shares a deeply personal story about learning to jive—not from a formal dance school or a professional instructor, but from the people who shaped her childhood: her mam, her grandad, and yes, even TikTok.
This blend of old and new is exactly what makes dance such a powerful part of modern life. Katelyn’s story reminds us that dance isn’t just about technique or competition. It’s about memory. It’s about the kitchen floor after Sunday dinner, the living room carpet worn thin from shuffling feet, and the laughter that fills the space between steps.
Her grandad taught her the traditional moves—the ones that have been passed down through Irish families for decades. Her mam added her own flavor, showing that dance is never static. And then came TikTok, the unlikely third teacher, proving that even the oldest dances can find new life through a smartphone screen.
This is the reality for so many young dancers today. They learn from elders who hold the history, but they also learn from viral videos that show the same steps in a new light. It’s not a contradiction. It’s a conversation across time.
What I love most about Katelyn’s experience is the honesty. She doesn’t pretend she learned perfectly. She doesn’t claim to be a master of the jive. Instead, she celebrates the messiness of learning—the wrong turns, the giggles, the moments when the music just takes over.
In a world that often rushes toward the next trend, it’s refreshing to see a young person honor the roots of a dance while embracing the tools of today. TikTok didn’t replace her grandad’s lessons. It amplified them.
So here’s to the mams and grandads who keep traditions alive. And here’s to the kids who put them on their phones and share them with the world. The jive isn’t going anywhere—it’s just finding new feet to move with.
